Teen pleads guilty to sexual assault of a ‘friend’ at Gold Coast house party

A MAN pleaded guilty yesterday to sexually assaulting his “friend” after she fell asleep at a Gold Coast house party.

The court heard McDonald was one of the “last bunch” of Queensland 17-year-olds treated like adults instead of under Youth Justice laws.

A MAN pleaded guilty yesterday to sexually assaulting his “friend” after she fell asleep at a Gold Coast house party.

Lachlan McDonald, 18, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault in the Southport District Court.

The court heard he pulled a woman’s pants down and was kissing her around the pelvic area after a party last year when she woke and “freaked out”.

The court heard the woman went to sleep resting on her boyfriend’s legs on an L-shaped lounge at the party.

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The court heard McDonald, who was aged 17 at the time, also went to bed on the same lounge.

About an hour before the woman woke to find her pants pulled down McDonald touched her legs inappropriately, the court heard.

The court heard McDonald, who suffers from depression, apologised immediately after the assault.

Judge Catherine Muir said condemned his actions.

“We need to make it clear to the community by acting through the court that this is not tolerated,” Judge Muir said.

She gave McDonald an 18 month probation order.

The court heard McDonald was one of the “last bunch” of Queensland 17-year-olds treated like adults instead of under Youth Justice laws.

The juvenile justice reforms were announced last year aimed at bringing the state into line with legislation in all other Australian jurisdictions.