Albion Park Harness Racing Club chief executive Scott Steele avoids conviction after sexually assaulting woman at Xmas party
The chief executive of a Brisbane racing club has kept his job after being sentenced over the sexual assault of a young woman at an “after-party” at Friday’s Riverside.
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A racing club boss who admitted to unzipping a young woman’s top in front of a chief executive at a work Christmas party, nearly exposing her, has escaped conviction and will keep his job.
Albion Park Harness Racing Club chief executive Scott Steele was the general manager of operations at the Brisbane Racing Club when he sexually assaulted a young woman at an “after-party” at Friday’s Riverside on December 17, 2016.
The Brisbane District Court heard the young woman was seated on a stool at a table talking to the Brisbane Racing Club’s CEO when Steele walked behind her and unzipped her top.
“She was wearing a top that was held together by a zip that ran down her back,” Judge John Allen said at Steele’s sentencing hearing today.
“You walked around the table and stood behind her and pulled the zip of her top down.
“The undoing of the zip prompted the complainant to lurch forwards towards the CEO and place her hands on her chest to prevent the exposure of her breasts and … in the same moment, you pulled the zip back up.
“You walked away and laughed.”
The court heard the young woman went home soon after.
Judge Allen said Steele, 54, later apologised to the woman for “touching her inappropriately”.
The woman made a complaint to police in 2021.
Previous court hearings have heard Steele was also charged with rape relating to an allegation from 2015.
The rape and sexual assault charges were set for trial - with Steele’s lawyers previously saying he “maintains his innocence on all counts”.
The rape charge was withdrawn in July and Steele pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault this week.
The court heard Steele has been the CEO of the Albion Park Harness Racing Club since 2021 but has been suspended on full pay.
A letter presented to the court by Steele’s defence team, written by the club’s chairperson, indicated they wanted to continue his employment.
“Unfortunately the offence - (which) was objectively at the lower end of seriousness of sexual assault - has had a significant impact upon the complainant,” Judge Allen said.
“(The club is) prepared to continue your employment.
“However, the chairperson of the club indicated that the governing legislation would mean that if a conviction was recorded against you, your employment would be terminated.”
The woman read an emotional victim impact statement to the court, saying the incident had affected her career, personal relationships and confidence.
“The impacts of the sexual assault began instantly and although it was almost eight years ago, it continues to affect me,” she said.
“The immediate impact was feeling violated and shocked at what took place (and) later feeling disgusted and angry that this had happened to me.
“I have always been introverted and anti confrontational, however, the sexual assault has left me questioning my natural personality - such as whether being of a softer nature made me an easy target.”
Judge Allen fined Steele $1000 and ordered him to pay $5000 to his victim. He did not record a conviction.
Originally published as Albion Park Harness Racing Club chief executive Scott Steele avoids conviction after sexually assaulting woman at Xmas party
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