Boss convicted of touching up 15-year-old girl who worked in his cafe after school

A teenage girl who worked in a Sydney cafe for some pocket money was sexually touched by her “gropey” boss. See what happened in court.

A man, 37, was convicted in Manly Local Court on Thursday of sexually touching a 15-year-old schoolgirl who worked at his north shore cafe. Picture: Monique Harmer

A “gropey” boss who touched up a 15-year-old girl, who was working in his north shore cafe for pocket money after school, has been convicted of sexual assault in Manly Local Court.

The man, 37, rubbed the girl’s pubic area, patted her bottom and touched her chest while she helped out as his business, the court heard on Thursday.

But the man told police that he believed his actions were “playful behaviour” that was part of the culture of the country where he was born.

The cafe owner, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually touch another person without consent.

The behaviour of a man who touched a 15-year-old girl who worked at his cafe was described in Manly Local Court as a “groping” sexual offence Picture: Monique Harmer

Magistrate Robyn Denes described the man’s actions as “groping” that involved

“rubbing genitals”.

“It is a sexual offence,” Ms Denes said.

“She’s 15.

“Why do you think that a 15-year-old girl would want you to touch her anyway?

“Young girls who work in shops should not have to put up with leering, gropey (behaviour) from their employer.”

Ms Denes pointed out that the cafe owner had offered the victim discounted cakes and treats to encourage her to visit the bakery before he offered her an after school job.

His solicitors wrote in a submission to the court that he had a “vibrant and very friendly personality and endeared himself to his staff by greeting them with hugs”, which (he) related to the culture of his place of birth.

Manly Court heard the cafe owner offered the girl discounted treats to encourage her visit the business before he offered her a job. File picture: Shannon Newley

He believed he was being “over friendly and playful”.

According to a police facts sheet tendered to court, the man approached the victim from behind while she was standing at a sink and pressed the front part of his body against the back part of her body.

He put his arm around the top of part of her chest and then “began to rub the pubic/pelvic areas for 1 to 2 seconds”.

As she pulled away from him, he slapped her on the buttocks.

His solicitor told the court that his client was sorry.

“He’s done wrong. He knows he’s done wrong.

“He’s a good man. This is a slip up.”

Ms Denes convicted the man and handed him a Community Correction Order to be of good behaviour for two years.