Community order for Tat man

A Tatura man who inappropriately touched a young girl has been placed on a community corrections order for 18 months and ordered to do 180 hours of community work.

Michael Edward Newman, 36, pleaded guilty to intentionally touching a child under 16 by fondling her genitals between November 1, 2019, and January 4, 2020.

Prosecutor Sergeant Jo Allen told the court in November 2019 Newman had touched the girl inappropriately.

On January 4, Newman fondled the girl over her clothes, Sgt Allen said.

The court heard that when Newman was interviewed by police in August last year he agreed he had touched her in a way he now acknowledged was inappropriate.

He also denied touching the girl on the genitals or anywhere else in the alleged January incident.

Newman’s solicitor Luke Docherty asked for a community corrections order for his client as he had no prior criminal history.

Magistrate Peter Mithen found that Newman was a low risk of re-offending and sentenced him to an 18-month community corrections order, which also includes 180 hours of community work.

Other conditions of the order included taking part in any program likely to reduce Newman’s likelihood of re-offending.

He will also be listed on the Sex Offenders Register for eight years.