Windscreen washer jailed for red-lights grope

A roadside windscreen washer who groped a female driver's breast through an open car window has been jailed for three months.

Alvin Gary Wainohu, 27, appeared in the Hamilton District Court for sentencing yesterday after a jury found him guilty of a charge of indecently assaulting a female.

Earlier there had been tense scenes inside the courtroom as Judge Merelina Burnett instructed Wainohu's vocal supporters to remain quiet during the sentencing.

Wainohu's father walked out of the court shouting obscenities, but later returned to apologise to Judge Burnett.

The court heard that on September 9 last year, Wainohu had approached his victim at the intersection of Hamilton's Mill and Ulster Sts, offering to wash her windscreen.

As the woman lowered her window to pay Wainohu, he reached in and squeezed her breast.

The victim and her mother who was seated in the front passenger seat independently identified Wainohu at trial.

The jury took less than half an hour of deliberations to find Wainohu guilty of the offence.

Judge Burnett said Wainohu's "brazen offending" had left his victim shaken and disgusted.

The young mother now avoided the Mill and Ulster Sts intersection.

In submissions, defence counsel Bruce Hesketh said Wainohu did not have a history of similar offending.

He also noted Wainohu's partner had given birth to their seventh child on Sunday.

Judge Burnett, however, said a pre-sentence report indicated Wainohu was at high risk of reoffending and seemed to lack remorse or insight into his behaviour.

The court heard that Wainohu had 38 previous convictions, including seven for burglary.

Judge Burnett said home detention was not a suitable option and sentenced Wainohu to three months in prison.

- © Fairfax NZ News