Drunk chef pleaded guilty at Rockhampton Court for sexual assault on teen

A man who sexually assaulted his teenage daughter’s best friend during a sleepover claims he has no memory of the incident. DISTRESSING CONTENT

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A man who sexually assaulted his teenage daughter’s best friend during a sleepover claims he has no memory of the incident.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the child, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on December 9 to two counts of sexual assault.

Crown prosecutor Matthew Sutton said the victim was 16 years old at the time of the assault which took place at a Rockhampton residence.

He said there was a party in the afternoon where alcohol was consumed, and the victim slept over in the man’s daughter’s bedroom.

Mr Sutton said when the man, who is in his late 40s, first entered the bedroom, he had the torch on his mobile phone on and left shortly after.

He said the second time the defendant entered about 3.30am, he rubbed the victim’s buttocks for 30 seconds.

Mr Sutton said during the third visit, he rubbed her hip for about 10 seconds before the victim “jerked” his hand away.

He said the victim immediately complained to her friend – the defendant’s daughter – and the victim was then picked up by her mother, telling her what happened.

He said the teenager stated in her victim impact statement she had suffered “a lasting effect on her mental health”, had flashbacks, her sleep had been affected, she attended counselling and her friendship with the defendant’s daughter had suffered.

Mr Sutton said the victim’s school grades had dropped.

Defence barrister Julie Marsden said her client, who works as a chef, had been in a relationship with the mother of his children for 18 years and expects that relationship to end as a result of this offending.

Ms Marsden said the defendant had reduced his alcohol intake significantly following this incident and had his first appointment with Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Services the month after the offending took place.

“He was drinking home brew,” she said.

“He was mortified the next day (when he found out about his actions). He has no memory at all.

“He wants to apologise to the victim and the family.”

Ms Marsden said he decided not to allow his children to have friends over for sleepovers anymore when he is around.

Judge Jeff Clarke sentenced the man to nine-months prison, wholly suspended and operational for a year.

Originally published as Drunk chef pleaded guilty at Rockhampton Court for sexual assault on teen