Keith Leonard Sailes found not guilty of sexual assault

A former taxi driver from the South Burnett has had a big win in court after he was cleared of groping a teenage passenger.

Keith Leonard Sailes was found not guilty of sexual assault at Kingaroy District Court on Friday, February 21, 2025.

A former taxi driver who was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage passenger in 2022 has had a massive win in court.

Keith Leonard Sailes, of Kingaroy, was found not guilty of sexual assault on Friday, February 21, after a two-day trial in Kingaroy District Court.

Mr Sailes admitted to driving the 19-year-old woman home and hugging her, but pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault.

In his opening statement, Crown Prosecutor Noel Needham said Mr Sailes asked for a hug when he dropped the young woman off at her home after she had been drinking at a friend’s place.

He said the alleged victim “wasn’t completely comfortable with this idea”, but agreed to the hug.

Mr Sailes’ lawyer said his client admitted to hugging the alleged victim when he dropped her off, but was “emphatic” he did not touch her inappropriately or try to kiss her.

“You job is to decide whether (the allegations) actually occurred,” he said to the jury.

“Play close attention to the evidence and keep an open mind when you hear it.”

The court heard directly from the alleged victim, who appeared via video link, her mother and a friend who she told about the alleged incident.

Keith Leonard Sailes at the Kingaroy courthouse in 2024.

The jury was shown video of Mr Sailes’ interview with police.

Mr Sailes said they chatted while they were driving, and she told him her boyfriend had cheated on her recently and said she felt she “wasn’t good enough or attractive enough”.

He said “to me you look fine” in an effort to make her feel better.

When they reached her home, they both got out of the car.

Mr Sailes said she seemed upset about her relationship problems and he said to her, “you look like you could use a cuddle”.

According to Mr Sailes, she walked around to the driver’s side of the car, they hugged and then he got back into the taxi and left.

He repeated he did not touch her in a sexual way and did not try to kiss her.

Mr Sailes was visibly frustrated during the interview, and told police he had just come off a night shift when he was woken up at home and taken to the police station for the interview.

After deliberating for 25 minutes, the jury found Mr. Sailes not guilty of all charges.