Middleton Motors owner Sonny Middleton jailed at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court for sexually assaulting teenager

A vile Bendigo businessman and father of four has been convicted of sexually assaulting a teenager during a secret court hearing. See how he was dealt with.

Sonny Middleton, 37, of White Hills was jailed for sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

A vile Bendigo businessman and father of four has been convicted of sexually assaulting a teenager during a secret court hearing.

Sonny Middleton, of White Hills, pleaded guilty and was jailed during secret hearings at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court and when the dust settled on Wednesday, the father of four walked back to his prison cell a convicted sex offender.

Middleton was at a party with his wife at a Jackass Flat property in August 2023 when he crept into a bedroom where his victim was sleeping and assaulted the teenage girl.

The girl told police she woke up with Middleton leaning over her with his hand down her pants groping her vagina.

She immediately jumped away from him, shouting for her friend, as Mr Middleton fled the scene, leaving the traumatised teenager weeping with her pants pulled down, the court previously heard.

Middleton, part owner of Middleton Motors, a “well-known” Heathcote car dealership business that he is partners in with his brother and father, appeared from prison after his bail was revoked last week.

Middleton’s father and patriarch of Middleton Motors previously offered the court $50,000 to get his son released from prison in December following several failed attempts by the sex offender to get bail after his arrest.

Sonny Middleton, 37, of White Hills outside Bendigo Magistrates’ Court.

Police initially alleged Middleton raped the teen by penetrating her with his finger, but his lawyers successfully argued there was insufficient evidence to convict Middleton on the rape charge, accusing police of leading the victim in her “uncertain” testimony.

Last week the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the rape charge and proceeded with a charge of sexual assault that Middleton pleaded to.

The impact Middleton’s grubby attack had on the victim was hidden behind closed doors, but police previously told the court the teenage girl has been left living in “fear” and suffering from serious health issues.

Magistrate Sharon McRae convicted and jailed Middleton for six months, with 77 days reckoned as time served in pre-sentence custody.

He will be released on September 6, 2024 when he will commence a 12 month community corrections order.

Middleton was placed on the sex offenders register.