Gold Coast man Wayne Clifford Howlett sentenced to three months in prison after sexually assaulting intellectually disabled woman

AN elderly man who sexually assaulted an intellectually disabled woman in a Gold Coast park has been jailed after facing Southport Magistrates Court today.

Wayne Clifford Howlett

A 74-YEAR old man who sexually assaulted an intellectually disabled woman in a Palm Beach park will spend the next three months in prison.

Wayne Howlett lured the 24-year-old woman into the bushes, undressed and touched her inappropriately despite her saying no.

Howlett p leaded guilty last month in the Southport District Court to sexual assault and indecent dealing with an impaired person.

Judge Katherine McGinness this morning sentenced him to three months prison.

He will also have to serve two years probation once released and will be required to complete a sexual offenders program.

Howlett, a Vietnam veteran, quietly said “yes” when asked if he understood his sentence.

He hung his head when moments later he was led into the holding cells behind the court.

Howlett lured the woman, who has the intellectual ability of a child aged between three and six, into some bushes in a Palm Beach park on June 26, 2016.

“You took off her clothes in a public but screened area and touched her inappropriately,” Ms McGinness said.

“You assisted her to dress before leaving.”

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Wayne Clifford Howlett, 74, has been sentenced to three months in prison after pleading guilty to sexual assault and indecent dealing with an impaired person.

COAST MAN, 74, PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUALLY ASSAULT

The court was told the woman, who did not have the ability to consent, still said no to his advances.

“You had a reasonable belief she was not impaired,” Ms McGinness said.

“You are saying you did not hear her say no.”

The court was told Howlett had taken his hearing aids out to go swimming prior to the attack and did not hear the woman say no.

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Howlett suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder related to his service in the Vietnam War.

Ms McGinness said Howlett’s wife of 20 years had written to the court expressing her support.

“She is shocked and distressed by your offending,” Ms McGinness said.

Ms McGinness said she also took into account Howlett’s plea of guilty in sentencing as it prevented the woman from having to give evidence about the assault.