Terrance Wellington convicted, jailed for ‘terrifying’ groping of woman’s genitalia at Nowra servo

A meth addict has copped the full brunt of the law after groping a woman’s genitalia at a South Coast servo in an attack slammed by a magistrate as “terrifying”.

Terrance Wellington was sentenced to jail in Nowra Local Court on Monday. Picture: John Appleyard

A meth addict who sexually touched a woman at a South Coast servo has been jailed for the “gross” and “violating” attack.

Terrance Wellington, 30, was convicted and sentenced to 12 months in prison – six months without parole – after grabbing a woman’s genitalia at a Kinghorne St, Nowra, service station on September 10 last year.

The Orient Point man pleaded guilty in Nowra Local Court on April 7 to sexually touching another without consent.

Wellington, who has been on bail since his arrest, returned to court on Monday to be sentenced over the vile assault, where he was represented by solicitor Daniel Turner.

Magistrate Lisa Viney outlined the agreed facts, which stated Wellington placed his right hand on the 27-year-old woman’s vagina while waiting to pay for fuel.

Terrance Wellington committed the assaulted at the Mobil Service Station in Nowra. Pictures: Google Maps, Tom McGann

As the woman walked past, Wellington shifted to let her through, then reached out and grabbed her.

She immediately pushed him away, and Wellington fled the scene.

The service station attendant witnessed the assault and checked if the victim was okay, however, she too ran outside the store to photograph Wellington’s car before he fled.

The image was later given to police.

Officers arrested Wellington at his home about 7.30pm the same day.

Court documents said the ordeal left the woman feeling “gross and violated”.

Ms Viney called Wellington’s actions “extremely serious” and said there was “no excuse” for such offending.

“You grabbed her,” she said.

“It would have been terrifying.”

Wellington’s solicitor said his client struggled with methamphetamine addiction and mental health issues, including schizophrenia.

Despite the submissions, Ms Viney ordered that Wellington serve a full-time custodial sentence.

He will be eligible for release on October 27.

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