Jason Glen Smoothy sentenced in Taree for Tinonee sexual touching charge

A Mid-North Coast man who arrived unannounced at his victim’s home and groped her twice - telling her at one point “you know you liked it” - has been sentenced.

Taree Courthouse.

A Taree man who arrived unannounced at his victim’s home and groped her twice - telling her at one point “you know you liked it” - has been sentenced.

During the ordeal, her mother arrived but the victim felt too “shocked and ashamed” to tell her what was happening.

Taree man Jason Glen Smoothy had pleaded not guilty to two charges of sexually touching without consent but after a hearing in December last year, Magistrate Allison Hawkins found the offences were proven.

According to police facts tendered to the court, Smoothy, 48, and the victim started communicating via Facebook about two years ago.

On September 3, 2021, Smoothy arrived unannounced at her Tinonee home. This was the first time they had met in person.

Jason Glen Smoothy outside Taree courthouse on January 17, 2023.

Smoothy, whose occupation is listed as a gardener in court documents, said he could help fix the woman’s car.

He entered her home and made a number of inappropriate remarks including “Aunty Maria told me you don’t wear underwear”.

The victim’s cat brought a dead mouse into the loungeroom and when she went to throw it in the bin Smoothy followed her and put his hand between her legs and held it there.

The facts stated that the victim told Smoothy “don’t f***en touch me again or I will lay you out”.

Not long after, the victim’s mother arrived and she went out to greet her but did not tell her what had happened as she felt “shocked and ashamed”.

When her mother left and she walked back to the house, Smoothy tried to block her entry with his leg and threatened to “bend her over the railing”.

Afterwards, when they were looking at her car, he pulled up her dress and sexually touched her again.

After he left the property, the victim blocked his messages and calls.

Smoothy called another person about the incident and, according to police facts, described it as “just a bit of fun”.

The matter returned to Taree Local Court for sentencing on February 21.

For the two charges Ms Hawkins sentenced Smoothy to an aggregate term of imprisonment of 15 months starting on February 21 and ending on May 20.

The term of imprisonment is to be served by way of an intensive correction order in the community and his movement will be electronically monitored for the period of the order and he must perform 100 hours of community service work.

He must also seek treatment from a sexual assault psychologist.