A 43-YEAR-OLD man has been found guilty of inappropriately touching a teenage girl.
Joao Gomes Drummond touched his victim’s bottom and tried to kiss her on the mouth at a pub.
Drummond was convicted of sexual touching following a two-day trial in the Magistrate’s Court.
The teenager – who was 12 at the time of the incident – gave evidence on the first day of the trial, saying Drummond approached her from behind and stroked and slapped her buttocks.
She said that he left the room but returned soon afterwards and tried to kiss her on the mouth. The girl added that she said ‘no’ and moved, so that he kissed her on the shoulder.
Drummond will be sentenced in September.
The victim was supported by Dewberry House Sexual Assault Referral Centre and an independent sexual violence advisor from Jersey Domestic Abuse Support.
Commenting following the sentencing, Detective Constable Carla Garnier said: ‘We are committed to investigating and prosecuting all sexual offenders and want to assure victims that there are a number of agencies who are in a position to offer support and guidance through all stages of the criminal justice process.
‘We work with key partners and advocacy services such as the SARC at Dewberry House, JDAS, JAAR and the Jersey Women’s Refuge, to encourage victims of sexual crime to report such incidents.’
Support services are available:
– The Sexual Assault Referral Centre at Dewberry House provides expert independent and confidential support to victims of sexual abuse: call 888222.
– Jersey Action Against Rape provides and maintains a supporting framework for survivors and their families: 482801.
