Michael Dudley: Kirrawee man appeals jail term for sexually touching teen
A court heard how a man plied a 13-year-old with booze before sexually touching her in the child’s own bed.
St George Shire Standard
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A man jailed after he sexually touched a teen and plied her with Vodka Cruisers will now attempt to avoid any further time behind bars for his vile behaviour.
Michael Dudley, 29, was jailed for at least eight months in December after he was convicted of sexual touching and supplying alcohol to a minor at Sutherland Local Court.
The court heard revolting details of the attack in which the Kirrawee man groped the 13-year-old girl under her crop top as she lay terrified in her own bunk bed.
After spending several weeks behind bars Dudley was subsequently granted bail to appeal his sentence in the Sydney District Court.
Dudley’s solicitor told the court he will appeal against any additional jail time and instead seek a community corrections order when the matter returns to court on May 4.
Judge Dina Yehia said the facts on their own could only warrant full-time imprisonment.
“This is a very serious matter, it’s skin on skin contact,” Judge Yehia said.
“He’s touching her on the breasts under the crop top, not over the sheets or over clothing – he was 29, she was 13.”
Judge Yehia will review Dudley’s subjective material and make a judgment on his appeal at Sydney District Court next month.
At his local court appearance in December, Magistrate Michael Connell said Dudley gave the girl three Vodka Cruisers to drink behind her mother’s back while he was having dinner at her home.
“He moved his hand down her body and under her crop top and squeezed her breast,” Mr Connell said.
“The victim froze until someone walked in and the offender stopped what he was doing before the victim curled up into a ball.”
The victim remained curled up with her arms crossed over her body but Dudley pushed her legs apart, touched her upper thigh and buttock, then pulled her hand onto his penis.
“She could feel his penis through his shorts,” Mr Connell said.
“(Afterwards) she went to the bathroom and started to cry.”
The matter was then reported to police after the victim divulged the horrific incident to her sister and subsequently their mother.
“The offender accepts the severity of the crime and asks the court to accept this heartfelt letter of apology,” Mr Connell said.
“The court finds that no sentence other than imprisonment is appropriate.”
Mr Connell convicted Dudley and sentenced him to a maximum of 17 months’ imprisonment.
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