Stuart James Ross, 64, sentenced after assaulting an employee at workplace

A truck driver has been sentenced after he accosted a woman at her workplace in an assault which left the woman unable to return to work due to his conduct.

A truck driver has been sentenced and told he was “old enough to know better” after details of his workplace assault were revealed in court.

Stuart James Ross pleaded guilty to one charge of common assault in Warwick Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Hutchins detailed how more than a year ago, on October 7, 2022, Ross was making a delivery to a service station at Warwick in his role as a truck driver.

In the early morning, the 64-year-old driver was making conversation with the attendant and after unloading the material, told the female attendant “see you later,” before leaving.

Stuart James Ross outside Warwick Magistrates Court on Monday, 27 November 2023.

The court was told Ross then grabbed the attendant tightly, and began stroking his hand down her back, to her bottom and told her “you look like a girl who wouldn’t mind some trouble,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

The attendant said the ordeal made her feel “yuck” and she was unable to return to work for 12 months following the incident.

Defence lawyer Patricija Grigutytė told the court her client, who was born in New Zealand, was married, and had two children, and said the offending was “out of character”.

Ms Grigutytė also submitted her client was “remorseful”.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess sternly told the man his conduct was “not appropriate,” and reminded him he was responsible for the woman being unable to return to work.

“Your actions have consequences and you should be forced to reckon with your conduct. You’re old enough to know better, and ‘out of character’ doesn’t excuse your behaviour,” Ms Sturgess said.

“She deserves to be protected from people like you. Keep your hands off other people.”

Ross was fined $1200.

No conviction was recorded.