Groper avoids prison

Man claims he was drunk

A GOLD Coast man who filmed himself sexually assaulting an unconscious, drunk woman he met in a nightclub has earned a suspended ninemonth jail sentence.

Stuart Lawrence Jackson, 30, claimed he was drunk and high on ecstasy tablets when he went clubbing in Brisbane this year.

At 5am on April 12 he followed two male friends and a 22-year-old woman back to a studio apartment where the woman passed out drunk in the bedroom.

While the other two friends left to call a cab, Jackson used his mobile phone to photograph the woman in indecent poses and filmed himself kissing and caressing her seminude body.

The horrified friends caught him in the act and called police who confiscated Jackson’s phone and found still photographs and a video recording.

Yesterday, he pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court to sexual assault and making recordings in breach of privacy.

Barrister Ron Frigo said Jackson, a qualified IT worker and salesman from Broadbeach Waters, was ashamed and remorseful of his intoxicated behaviour.

“His remorse is profound,” Mr Frigo said.

“He realises he has brought shame on both himself and his family.”

Mr Frigo said his client had a clean history and had not intended on sharing or uploading the indecent recordings.

But Magistrate Paul Johnstone said neither Jackson’s clean history nor his excuse of being intoxicated could save him from a criminal conviction.

He convicted and sentenced him to nine months’ jail wholly suspended for two years.

“This is just yet another example of a man taking advantage of a woman who found herself in a very vulnerable situation,” he said.

As the victim did not wish to lodge a victim impact statement Mr Johnstone said there would be no extra order for compensation.