Taree man Jason Glen Smoothy sexually touched woman in Tinonee home
A Mid-North Coast gardener groped a woman in her home saying “you know you liked it” before dismissing his actions as “just a bit of fun”. See what happened when he faced court.
Mid-North Coast
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A Mid North Coast man arrived unannounced at his victim’s home and groped her twice, telling her at one point “you know you liked it”.
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.
The matter returned to Taree Local Court again on Tuesday, January 17, for sentencing but Smoothy’s lawyer asked for a two week adjournment to complete a sentencing assessment report.
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.
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 has been adjourned to February 21 for sentencing.
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