Gold Coast grandfather who ‘aggressively’ groped granddaughter walks from court

A Gold Coast grandfather who groped his adult step-granddaughter so aggressively her chest was left in pain walked from court.

A GOLD Coast grandfather who groped his adult step-granddaughter so aggressively her chest was left in pain has walked from court.

His victim yesterday broke down in Southport District Court after the 76-year-old man was sentenced to eight months prison to be wholly suspended for 18 months.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty in the Southport District more than 12 months ago for one count of sexual assault.

Granddad ‘aggressively’ groped granddaughter

Sentencing in the case had been delayed due to an appeal and a remaining charge which resulted in a hung jury.

Yesterday the remaining charge was dropped and the appeal discontinued.

Crown prosecutor Gary Churchill told the court the nurse, who was 23 at the time, had come from out of town to stay with her grandparents in Mermaid Waters in February 2016.

He said when she stayed there, her step-grandfather, who married her maternal grandmother, came into her room, began massaging her shoulders and took off her bikini top.

During the massage he began touching and rubbing the complainant’s breast so aggressively she was left in pain.

“It seems as though she felt she couldn’t speak out and wanted to keep the offence from the knowledge of her maternal grandmother,” Mr Churchill said.

The court was told the woman had been ostracised from her family since making the complainant.

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Judge David Kent noted the offending had an impact on the woman’s work and sporting activities.

“She makes the observation that she hopes (those activities) both improve from this point onwards,’ he said.

Defence barrister Russell Pierce said the former mechanic had no criminal history and had not offended since the incident.

He said the man was not in the best health as he got older.