A FORMER restaurant owner who put his hand beneath a woman’s clothing and squeezed her bottom without consent has avoided prison despite the “profound effect” his actions had on her.
Grega Zver (35) was sentenced to 90 hours of community service, six months’ probation and a 12-month restraining order in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
The former owner of Jersey’s only Slovenian restaurant opened Ob Mizi in St Aubin with his wife last October after previously running the Old Barn in St Peter.
The restaurant closed this summer.
Legal Adviser Samantha Morris, prosecuting, said Zver squeezed the woman’s buttocks beneath her clothing but over her underwear in 2022.
She said the offence had a “profound effect” on the woman and left her life “somewhat chaotic”.
When interviewed 14 months ago, Zver claimed he may accidentally have touched the woman’s thigh while hugging her but denied touching her bottom.
He later pleaded guilty to sexual touching without consent.
Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, said Zver had apologised, acknowledged the impact on the woman and presented a “low risk” of sexual reoffending.
He said the restaurant’s closure this summer had left Zver with “significant debts” and a “somewhat parlous” financial position.
Relief Magistrate Peter Harris said the 14 months it had taken to conclude the case since Zver’s first interview was “much regrettable” and had affected both him and the woman.
He said the offence involved no violence and was at the lower end of the scale but amounted to “more than minimal contact”.
“Any unwanted sexual touching is a serious matter,” he said –adding that a message must go out “loud and clear” that it would not be tolerated.
Mr Harris said alcohol had been a “key factor” but was “not an excuse” for unlawful touching.
“I don’t think he is anything but remorseful for what happened,” he added.
Zver was also made subject to sexual-offender notification requirements.
The delay comes amid wider concern about Jersey’s handling of sexual offences. A review published in February found delays affected “most aspects” of the justice process and left some survivors feeling “unimportant and disengaged”.
Two additional courtrooms have since opened at Jubilee Wharf, with the Haut du Mont trial becoming their first major case.
It also comes as JAAR chief executive Tracey Le Brocq this week called on elected representatives to explain how Jersey’s justice services would “change, improve and deliver better outcomes” for victims of sexual offences.
