https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy9v4gr3yrlo

A 31-year-old man has been jailed for six months for sexually assaulting a woman as they danced together in a Belfast bar.

Abrao Soares Raul of Scotch Street in Dungannon, County Tyrone, was also put on the sex offenders' register for seven years.

He was also given a five year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits him from entering relationships without disclosing details to a designated risk manager.

The judge at Belfast Magistrates' Court stated that his available sentencing powers were inadequate for dealing with the crime.

The court heard that Raul was arrested by police called to a bar on Botanic Avenue on 4 August last year.

Door staff had detained him after a woman reported the sexual assault to them.

"The injured party alleged that while dancing with the defendant, he placed his hand down her trousers inside her underwear, touching her genitals," a prosecution lawyer said.

"It was also alleged that he put his hands inside her top and touched her breasts."

'Took no personal responsibility'

During his initial dealings with police at the scene, Raul repeatedly said sorry and asked them to apologise to the woman, the court was told.
But the defendant, believed to be a native of East Timor, then contested the charge only to be convicted in his absence.

A defence lawyer told the court Raul moved to Northern Ireland in 2015 to work as a factory welder.

Stressing his previous clear record, she added: "He has expressed a willingness to engage with community service."

However, District Judge Steven Keown held that he ultimately took no personal responsibility for what happened and continued to deny the offence.

Mr Keown also questioned why the case was not prosecuted in the Crown Court where tougher prison terms can be handed down.

"The maximum sentence I can impose is one of six months, which I have no hesitation (in doing) for a case taken to a contested hearing and which I feel is inadequate for the circumstances of this offence," the judge said.

by -Detective75

11 comments

  1. “The maximum sentence I can impose is one of six months”

    …and thats ok is it?!

    In this world if you say fuck it, hes getting 6 years, he’ll get 6 years!

    Just like they said, Jeffreys wife is too sensitive a soul to stand for her horrific crimes!

    Pathetic, complicit pricks

  2. Why did it go through the Magistrates Court instead of the Crown Court?

  3. 6 months. Yeah, the Northern Ireland Justice Dept and the Northern Ireland Executive is failing woman once again.

  5. People get longer for posting mean comments on reddit

  6. >But the defendant, believed to be a native of East Timor,

    Not gonna lie. I thought that was the name of some place in botanic. But then..

    >Raul moved to Northern Ireland in 2015 to work as a factory welder.

    Maybe I’m just stupid as fuck (don’t answer that, I am) but why is it so vague?

  8. So, 6 months inside, ok.

    What happens at the end of the 6 months? We’re deporting this cunt immediately, right?

    I don’t see anything in the article to suggest that we are.

  9. No mention of any proof, simply that “the defendant then contested the charge only to be convicted in his absence” .

    So he never showed up to court?

    Am I missing something?
    He was placed on the sex offenders register.

  11. He’s lucky he didn’t get sentenced instantly in the bar.

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