South Yarra barista Jayan Wijesinghe avoids jail for sexually assaulting former flatmate

A South Yarra barista who sexually assaulted a young man has suffered “embarrassment” after his lewd offending was publicised.

Jayan Wijesinghe pleaded guilty to sexual assault. Facebook.

A filthy South Yarra sex fiend who threatened to cut off the power and the water after sexually assaulting his flatmate has avoided a jail term.

Jayan Wijesinghe, 40, was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday to an 18-month community correction order after pleading guilty to a rolled-up charge of sexual assault.

Wijesinghe sexually assaulted his victim multiple times while the young man briefly lived at the fiend’s Claremont St apartment.

Wijesinghe, who lured his victim to his lair via Flatmate Finder, told the young man that he was “openly gay”.

The victim responded that it “wasn’t an issue” but he was “heterosexual” and had a girlfriend, the court was told.

Wijesinghe’s lewd behaviour ignited on the first occasion after the Kew barista drank alcohol and danced in the loungeroom.

Wijesinghe made unwanted advances and sexually assaulted his victim.

Wijesinghe later cornered his victim, grabbed his neck and stared into the young man’s eyes.

“What are you doing?,” the victim said.

Wijesinghe pressed up, danced and grinded against the victim.

The frightened young man “froze” but Wijesinghe said “it’s OK”.

Wijesinghe then ran his hands up and down the victim and grabbed his buttocks.

Wijesinghe left the house but texted the young man regularly to say he was “coming home soon” and asking he was “still awake”.

Wijesinghe returned and entered the victim’s room wearing only his underwear, the court was told.

The victim told his abuser to leave but Wijesinghe said he thought “they were going to cuddle”.

Wijesinghe is a veteran of the Melbourne hospitality industry.

Wijesinghe then sent a series of text messages to his victim including “cuddles”, “yess” and “I hate you”.

In a later incident, Wijesinghe kissed his victim on the neck.

Wijesinghe also attempted to pull his victim under a blanket while the pair were watching a movie in the loungeroom, the court was told.

The fiend then laid on the victim’s lap and kissed him on the face after the movie.

Wijesinghe sexually assaulted his victim again during a later incident.

However, this time he committed the vile act while in the apartment drinking with a friend.

The friend warned Wijesinghe “to be careful” because the victim may call police.

Wijesinghe questioned the victim who indicated he would call police if the sex groomer “didn’t stop touching him”.

Wijesinghe, who became “irate and aggressive”, flew off the handle and threatened to cut off the power and the water and change the locks.

Wijesinghe turned off an external power switch which shut off the lights in the victim’s room.

This was the last straw for the victim who vacated Wijesinghe’s apartment that day.

When arrested and interviewed he told police he did not know the victim.

He also denied the victim had ever lived at his apartment.

The court heard Wijesinghe was drinking white and red wine heavily at the time of his offending but no longer uses drugs and only drinks sparingly.

Wijesinghe also claimed he just wanted his victim to come out of his room and listen to music but acknowledged he is now “disgusted” at his “inexcusable” conduct.

The court heard Wijesinghe studied hospitality and tourism at Victoria University before working in food and beverage at Crown Casino and later at a Myer cafe.

Sharon Kermath, for Wijesinghe, said her client was the kind of person who like touching other people.

“He used to do that, you know touch people on the back,” Ms Kermath said.

“He did touch him on the bum.”

It was submitted Wijesinghe was “sorry for what he put the young man through” and no longer has flatmates to “avoid the situation”.

The prosecution submitted Wijesinghe’s offending had an “element of planning and grooming”.

Magistrate Greg McNamara said Wijesinghe’s offending was at the “lower end” but he committed a “gross breach of a victim’s right to feel safe”.

Magistrate McNamara acknowledged media coverage of the offending had brought Wijesinghe “embarrassment”.

Wijesinghe was also convicted and fined $1000.

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