Groping victim left in shock after South Burnett man nonconsensually touched breasts, genitals at work event

A teenage woman was left in tears after a young Kingaroy man sexually assaulted her in front of her co-workers during an alcohol-fuelled night of team building.

An 18-year-old woman was left in a state of shock and brought to tears when she was sexually assaulted by a young Kingaroy man in front of her co-workers at an alcohol-fuelled team-building work event at Surfers Paradise.

Standing before Kingaroy Magistrates Court, Harrison Matthew William Black, 21, pleaded guilty to unlawfully and indecently assaulting the young woman at a work trip for Dominos employees.

The court heard about 10.30pm on March 16, the victim recalled feeling the defendant’s hand brush against her backside, police prosecutor Sergeant Pepe Gangemi said.

She initially ignored his advances, attempting to move away and continue the conversation she was having with her group of friends.

“The victim said the defendant then groped her backside, using both his hands to feel her up,” sergeant Gangemi said.

He then proceeded to move his hands up her body, touching her stomach and sides, before groping her breasts from behind.

Sergeant Gangemi said the victim told police she attempted to tell Black to leave her alone, but before she could say anything he asked her if she wanted to go back to the apartments and touched her vagina through her underwear.

She told Black to leave her alone and walked away crying, later telling police she was in shock, the court heard.

“There was no consent to any of the touching,” sergeant Gangemi said.

Black was represented by Mark Werner from JA Carroll Solicitors.

Mr Werner said his client is on the autism spectrum and as a result has difficulty reading social cues.

“There were about 240 people in a ballroom - about 40 mature adults and about 200 young employees,” Mr Werner said.

“There was a lot of drinking, there was free alcohol. Mr Black instructs he’s never had tequila before, but probably has at least a dozen of those and then started drinking scotch.”

“As soon as there was a complaint, he stopped touching her. “

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair sentenced Black to 80 hours of unpaid community service.

“It’s for a relatively large amount of community service, but it reflects the seriousness that the court must show towards people who sexually assault other people,” Magistrate Sinclair said.

“All people are entitled to bodily freedom and not to be touched unless they want to be.”

No conviction was recorded.