Peter Ross Shapland in Rockhampton court for sexual assault
A Jehovah’s Witness who sexually assaulted a retail employee has been scolded by a Queensland magistrate, who told the 69-year-old roo shooter that he was “too old for this sort of nonsense”.
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A Jehovah’s Witness who sexually assaulted a retail employee has been scolded by a Queensland magistrate, who told the 69-year-old roo shooter that he was “too old for this sort of nonsense”.
Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard Peter Ross Shapland sexually assaulted the victim in November 2023 while they were working at a retail store in Rockhampton.
Police prosecutor Brendon Selic said the victim and Shapland were not known to one another.
Mr Selic said Shapland had used his body to block the exit to the register booth the victim was working in and that he engaged in a brief conversation with the victim before grabbing their buttock and squeezing twice.
He said Shapland then left the store and that security advised police of the sexual assault.
The victim provided police with a description of Shapland and the incident was captured on CCTV.
Mr Selic said police used the CCTV footage to identify and track down Shapland through the shopping centre.
He said Shapland told police he and the victim were standing very close to one another and that his hand might have brushed past the victim’s buttock.
He said Shapland had no criminal history and that he would be 70 years old next month.
Defence lawyer Oscar Millroy said his client, who had four children and seven grandchildren, was a member of the Jehovah’s Witness community and had been self employed as a roo shooter since leaving school in Year 10.
Mr Millroy said his client, who lived in Banana, suffered from health conditions, including diabetes.
Magistrate Athol Kennedy addressed Shapland and told him that he was “too old for this sort of nonsense”.
Shapland responded, “Yes, I know your honour”.
“I am very sorry for what happened,” he said.
Shapland pleaded guilty on Friday to one count of sexual assault.
He was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond with $600 recognisance.
No criminal conviction was recorded.
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Originally published as Peter Ross Shapland in Rockhampton court for sexual assault
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