Rolande Tewano Loughlin sentenced for sexual assault in Mackay Grindr date gone wrong

A 27yo arrived at a unit and entered through an unlocked door for a late-night Grindr hook-up but not everything went as planned. Years later he was charged with sexual assault.

Rolande Tewano Loughlin faced court following what he claims was a "toxic" relationship. Photo: Contributed

A man who thought he was meeting his date sexually assaulted a stranger, as police found out years later.

Rolande Tewano Loughlin was 27 when he entered the wrong unit in Blacks Beach, Mackay, for a Grindr hook-up late at night on May 16 in 2019.

Yet it took the 30 year old’s arrest on November 30, 2022 on unrelated charges for police to identify him.

Loughlin plead guilty to offences including a contravention of probation, possession of a bong, and sexual assault.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said the sexual assault was “a bit of a weird one” and “very strange” as Loughlin was “not predatory”.

“You went into (the unit) thinking it was the person you had agreed to meet up with for sexual contact,” Ms Hartigan said.

Rolande Tewano Loughlin faced court for offences following what he claims was a "toxic" relationship. Photo: Contributed

“The agreement was that the door would be unlocked (but) the door you found … was a complete stranger.

“He woke up to you stroking (him and) told you to leave (which) you did.

“There was a fingerprint on the door (which) didn’t come to light until you were fingerprinted for the current offences.”

Police prosecutor Michelle Bay discontinued the enter dwelling with intent charge against Loughlin, confirming for Ms Hartigan the offence was unintended.

“It seems to have been that he’s in the wrong place and he’s suffered the consequences,” Ms Hartigan said.

The court heard Loughlin’s offending only began after what he claims was the breakdown of a “toxic” relationship.

Defence lawyer Elizabeth Smith said Loughlin’s life had “fallen apart” after the separation and a family member’s suicide.

Rolande Tewano Loughlin was given a wholly suspended jail term. Photo: Contributed

Ms Smith told the court that prior to his offending, Loughlin had pursued a successful career as a dancer and was a good worker.

“He came to (Mackay) for a boy and from there has been in a series of terrible relationships,” Ms Smith said.

“Things were piling on top of each other.

“He accepts that the wheels have fallen off for him and he needs to take stock of his life.”

Ms Hartigan gave Loughlin three months imprisonment wholly suspended for 18 months and ordered he complete Uniting Care’s Men Choosing Change program.

He was granted immediate release from the watch house where he had been in custody for nine days.

Loughlin’s family in court spoke with him via videolink, sharing statements of love and support.

Originally published as Rolande Tewano Loughlin sentenced for sexual assault in Mackay Grindr date gone wrong