Man (30) jailed for sexual assault on girlfriend’s sister
A 30-year-old man who sexually assaulted his then girlfriend’s sister, has been jailed for threeand-a-half years.
The victim was babysitting for her sister at the time of the offences, which occurred when she was aged 14.
The defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, and Judge Michael O’Shea told him he had robbed the girl of her innocence and childhood.
Dundalk circuit criminal court heard a first incident occurred at an address in midLouth on a date unknown between 1 April, 2016 and 30 April, 2016; and a second on 13 May, 2016, at the same location.
Evidence was given that the first attack occurred during the Easter holidays, when the accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, returned home alone, between 12 midnight and 12.30am.
The girl was watching a horror movie when he sat down beside her, and asked if she wanted a cuddle.
When she said ‘no’, he pulled her to him and tried to put her right hand down his tracksuit bottoms. He used his other hand to open his tracksuit.
She managed to pull her hand away, and went to her sister’s room, locking the door behind her.
On the following 13 May, the teenager was again babysitting. She had a mattress to sleep on in the sitting room.
She was watching a comedy, when, again, the defendant came home alone. He switched channels to put on a horror movie.
He was wearing tracksuit bottoms like before, and a different football jersey.
He asked for a cuddle, and she said ‘no’. He got off the couch, and lay on his side on the mattress, facing her.
The man, after twenty to 30 minutes, felt her right breast, under her top.
She said nothing, got up, and went to the downstairs bathroom for a time.
She then discovered he was gone, and fell asleep on the mattress, only to wake up fifteen minutes later, and find him back on the mattress.
On this occasion, he put his right hand inside her bra, and with his left, touched her behind. He then got up to go to bed.
The girl then received an inappropriate message from him on Snapchat, followed by a second in which he said to keep everything a secret. She replied to neither message.
On 19 May, 2016, the girl and her mother called to the local garda station to report the matter.
The man was subsequently arrested and brought to Dundalk garda station, where, in an interview, he denied deliberately sexually assaulting the girl.
He expressed regret for what happened, and said he would take whatever punishment he deserved.
The accused grew up in Dublin, and after moving to Co. Louth, worked for a time in Drogheda, until becoming depressed.
His relationship broke down as a result of this. He has a three-year-old child with the victim’s sister, and is allowed supervised access.
He realises he has committed a serious offence, and that he preyed upon a fourteen-yearold.
The court heard he has 16 previous convictions, all road traffic-related.
In a victim impact statement, the girl said she suffered a breakdown in school. She couldn’t leave her room.
‘Now, I don’t trust anyone. I grew up too early. I feel scared when I see him. For a long time, I thought I was going mad.’
She continued that counselling has helped, but some times feels it’s all her fault.
Judge O’Shea imposed concurrent three-and-a-half year sentences, and suspended the final 12 months of each.
A third sexual assault charge, in relation to the date in May, 2016, was taken into consideration.
The judge said the accused took advantage of his victim when she was on her own, and in a helpless and hopeless position.
His actions were shameful, degrading and humiliating.
The girl was saved the trauma of a trial by him pleading guilty, he added.