Man admits sexual assault on drunk teenager

A 19-year-old Nelson timber worker who admitted carrying out a sexual act on a 15-year-old girl while he was drunk had made an effort to take responsibility for his actions, a court was told.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Wayne Johnston said Jeffery had been celebrating a friend's birthday on March 30 and drinking alcohol since 3pm.

In the evening, he went to the Richmond reserve with a group of people, became intoxicated, and was introduced to the girl for the first time.

Johnston said Jeffery placed his arm around the girl's neck and started kissing her.

He then placed his hand up her skirt and touched her vagina. Jeffery asked the girl if she wanted to have sex with him and she said no, but he continued to touch her.

Johnston said the girl became upset because Jeffrey used aggressive force, and she tried to move his hand away.

The girl suffered pain later in the evening and had internal abrasions, swelling and tenderness.

When spoken to by police, Jeffery admitted what he had done and said he thought the girl had said she was 16, but could not be sure as he had been affected by alcohol.

Defence lawyer Tony Bamford said Jeffery accepted that the whole experience had been unpleasant for the victim.

Jeffery had paid $400 to the victim and made a donation to Women's Refuge since the incident, and was also having mentoring sessions.

Bamford said Jeffery accepted how close he had come to something much more serious and was now being much more careful with alcohol.

Judge Joanna Maze said Jeffery had no convictions relevant to the charge, and his guilty plea indicated that he had taken responsibility for his actions.

He had expressed his remorse, and gone through the restorative justice process, which she said could not have been easy.

Judge Maze said Jeffery had also changed the people he associated with, committed himself to his work, and would have ongoing contact with his mentor.

She convicted him and ordered him to come up for sentence if called upon within the next 12 months.

Judge Maze said she agreed with Bamford's submission that Jeffery had made a real effort to apologise and take responsibility for his actions, and so should be sentenced only if called upon.