Verdict a big relief for victim

A ROBINA Hospital staff member groped by a former maintenance worker fought back tears yesterday after her attacker was found guilty in the Southport District Court.

Anthony Alan Dixon, who was in the dock, remained stony faced.

Dixon, 44, was found guilty by a jury of five men and seven women of two counts of sexual assault after a three-day trial.

“I have the most overwhelming sense of relief,” the woman told the Bulletin. “Justice has prevailed.”

During the trial, the court was told Dixon and the woman were walking in the doctors’ accommodation area of the hospital on June 10, 2014, when he asked to see her “tramp stamp”.

Dixon also said to her: “I can tell you haven’t had sex for a long time. Do you want me?”

The 57-year-old woman, who was holding a spray bottle at the time, declined.

Dixon then grabbed her in a bear hug and shoved his hand down her pants, stopping before he got to her genitalia. He then pushed a hand up her shirt. Dixon also grabbed the woman’s hand and pushed it down his pants.

The court was also told Dixon repeatedly asked the woman for a kiss. She relented and kissed him, thinking it would make him go away. She said the kiss left saliva all over her face.

The hospital investigated the incident but were not able to substantiate the woman’s claims. Police did not charge Dixon until 2017 because the investigating officer had gone on extended leave, the court was told.

Dixon will be sentenced this morning. He is unemployed.

In January 2016, Dixon was sentenced to 12 months in prison, to serve four months, after he punched an 18-year-old woman in the face three times because he thought she was “driving badly” on Neilsens Rd, Carrara.