Vladimir Kunstelj: Elderly music teacher grabbed, twisted 14-year-old girl’s breast at The Rocks

An elderly music teacher who “grabbed, squeezed and twisted” a 14-year-old girls breast in a “public setting” has learnt his fate in court.

Vladmini Kunstelj appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday.

An elderly music teacher “grabbed, squeezed and twisted” a 14-year-old girl’s breast in a “public setting”, a court has heard.

The disturbing act led to Oatley man Vladimir ‘Walter’ Kunstelj losing his Working with Children Check with the 78-year-old pleading guilty to common assault at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, supported by his wife and daughter.

Court documents reveal between 8pm and 8.30pm on September 14 at The Rocks, Kunstelj assaulted the girl. He was arrested two days later.

While being “very concerned” by the fact sheet, Magistrate Susan Horan accepted the offending was “not in a sexual context” when he “grabbed, squeezed and twisted” the victim’s right breast.

Kunstelj’s barrister Mr Butterfield said on this particular evening, he organised games for a visiting school group, including “hammering a nail into the wood”.

Kunstelj was convicted at the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

He said his client believed “some sort of ruse” was being played by the victim which led to him grabbing the child’s breast, however he was “immediately apologetic”.

Mr Butterfield said his client was a “well-regarded” member of the community after moving to Australia as a 17-year-old from former Yugoslavia.

The court heard the 78-year-old worked in the entertainment industry and “since retirement” became a music teacher.

Mr Butterfield told the court there was no sexual connotation in the assault, it was a short interaction and had caused a great deal of embarrassment for the girl.

While acknowledging Kunstelj had apologised straight away, the prosecutor said a conviction was necessary.

Ms Horan agreed, and despite accepting a charge of sexual touching was withdrawn, she said the breast was a “vulnerable part of the body”.

She also noted the victim’s age, saying a “14-year-old girl should be able to go [to an] excursion and feel safe”.

“[Kunstelj] needs to understand that this behaviour is completely unacceptable … it is appalling conduct,” Ms Horan said.

“[He] must also consider the harm done to the community … [the] community would be rightfully outraged … as counsel rightfully and fairly accepted … this occurred in a public setting.”

Ms Horan accepted Kunstelj was remorseful and the assault wasn’t skin on skin.

She told the court Kunstelj had faced extra-curial punishment after losing his Working with Children Check, however, placed the 78-year-old on a two-year community correction order and he was fined $1000.