Sean David Read, 50, pleads guilty to groping Toowoomba teen

An aged care worker has fled town after it was revealed he assaulted an unsuspecting teenage girl, sliding his hand down her underwear.

Sean David Read, 50, pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl before Toowoomba Magistrate Court on July 22, 2025.

A Toowoomba man who harassed a teenage girl before sexually assaulting her has told a court he left town due to the incident.

Former age care worker Sean David Read, 50, pleaded guilty before Toowoomba Magistrates Court to the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl after he was seen groping her on a night out.

Prosecution said Read was caught on CCTV approaching the girl throughout the night, placing his hand on her back, wrapping his arms around her waist and whispering in her ear.

The court heard he continually asked her how old she was and if she would like to go home with him, on one occasion slapping her bottom and cuddling her from behind.

During the night, the girl bent down to pick an item off the floor when Read placed his hand on her back, sliding it underneath her underwear to the top of her bottom.

The girl reported the assault the same day, telling police she was “incredibly uncomfortable” with Read’s behaviour.

Defence solicitor Brad Skuse said Read was heavily intoxicated on the night and had no memory of the event.

He added Read was struggling with binge drinking after a traumatising experience at work.

“My client had an issue in relation to binge drinking and the misuse of alcohol,” Mr Skuse said.

“There has been significant change in relation to that, since he has been charged, he has decreased the level of consumption … now it is a very social one or two drinks while enjoying a meal with family.”

Mr Skuse said the behaviour was out of character for Read who had no criminal history and an excellent work history.

“My client does not dismiss his offending in any way, shape or form,” Mr Skuse said.

“It is such that he has relocated away from the district given the effect.

“This was a one-off incident.

“(The assault) was certainly for a brief period of time and while it did go into her underwear it was the bottom part of her back.

“There was no further interaction of any significance after that.”

Magistrate Kay Philipson posited it was possible the behaviour ceased due to the girl’s actions, rather than Read’s effort.

“I’m not surprised … she’s 16, she may well have distanced herself, even if she stayed there so she wasn’t in a position where he could do something as appalling again,” she said.

“It is sexual assault, it’s not minor.”

Ms Philipson said Read’s intoxication was no excuse for his behaviour towards the young girl.

“If that’s how you behave when you are intoxicated you might want to consider whether you should be consuming alcohol at all,” she said.

“Voluntary intoxication – it is specifically legislated that it is not a mitigating factor in any way.”

Read was sentenced to two years probation with no convictions recorded.

Originally published as Sean David Read, 50, pleads guilty to groping Toowoomba teen