Peter Snow: New Zealand farmer fined over Sydney Airport sex assault

A retired farmer blamed his overwhelming impulses for a sex assault on an airport worker. ‘She will carry this with her forever,’ the distraught woman’s lawyer told a court.

Peter Snow, 57, who pleaded guilty to sexually touching a Sydney airport worker's breast. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

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A Kiwi national who grabbed a Sydney airport worker’s breast when she tried to help him with a ripped shirt told police “my hormones got the better of me”, a court has heard.

Retired farmer Peter Snow, 57, was preparing to travel to South Africa when his journey was diverted from Sydney Airport’s international terminal to the cells of the Surry Hills police station yesterday.

Snow was arrested at the airport’s business lounge after a female customer service worker alerted her supervisor to his crude behaviour.

The Central Local Court today heard he had asked the woman to fix a rip in his shirt pocket.

“I’ll try not to prick you," the woman said while assisting him.

The 57-year-old said he regularly visits Australia for rugby games. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

Snow then reached up and grabbed her breast before the worker attempted to leave.

He then produced a medical note stating that he had suffered a brain injury and would appear intoxicated when he is in fact sober.

Australian Federal Police prosecutor Emilija Beljic said the young woman still felt “quite emotional” after the ordeal and that Snow had blamed his sexual impulses for his actions.

“In an interview with police he said ‘my hormones got the better of me’,” Ms Beljic told the court.

Snow, a retired Kiwi farmer, asked for help after his shirt ripped before sexually assaulting the woman. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

Snow’s lawyer said he regularly visits Australia to watch rugby games and was on route to South Africa before the “impulsive, silly, stupid” sexual assault.

Magistrate Kate Thompson fined Snow $4500 and placed him on a two-year community corrections order after he pleaded guilty to sexual touching on his first court appearance.

“She was carrying out her duties,” Magistrate Thompson said.

“She has felt (worse) overnight and it will take a long time for her to get over.

“She will carry this with her forever.”

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