Campbelltown Council employee assaults schoolgirl at International Women’s Day event
A Campbelltown Council employee has pleaded guilty to the assault of a teenage girl while working at an International Women’s Day school event he helped organise - and kept his job.
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A local government employee who assaulted a 15-year-old girl at an International Women’s Day school event he helped organise has escaped a criminal conviction at Campbelltown Local Court.
Neile Robinson, who is employed as Campbelltown Council’s co-ordinator of places and growth, pleaded guilty to grabbing the nervous teenage student around the ribs in March.
The 53-year-old Northmead man was attending the International Women’s Day school event, a function he helped to organise, at Eagle Vale High School.
The victim was performing a task as part of the event when Robinson grabbed her rib area.
He then, at the 15-year-old victim’s request, organised her a gift bag which was delivered by another student with the message of “here you go princess”.
The girl told two students and her mum about Robinson’s actions and he was arrested from Campbelltown Council’s administration building in April following an investigation by the Child Abuse Squad.
Robinson, a father-of-three, was originally accused of sexually touching the student but the charge was officially withdrawn by DPP prosecutor Marcelo Valerio. He pleaded guilty to common assault.
Magistrate George Breton said the Northmead man’s actions had affected the young victim substantially.
“(Robinson) had no right to place his hands on (the victim),” he said. “No right to say the things he said.
“This is not a trivial offence, I will make that clear. (Robinson) has to understand such behaviour would be subject to future condemnation, not only by the community but through the courts as well.”
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Robinson, who has worked in local government for 25 years, was placed on a conditional release order for 12 months with no conviction.
A Campbelltown Council spokesman said the 53-year-old remains employed by the council.
“This has been an unfortunate incident and we welcome that the matter has now been concluded,” a council spokesman said.