An Albury man who indecently assaulted a teenage girl before asking her to “watch my bike” while he went shopping has been jailed.
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The 16-year-old was attacked by David Noel Kitson outside West End Plaza, leaving her still shaking and upset when later interviewed by police at home.
Kitson had a “lengthy criminal history”, police told Albury Local Court this week, and showed a total lack of remorse for his latest offending.
When eventually arrested – having tried to escape capture by riding off at speed on his bike and then diving under a pile of leaves in Albury’s botanic gardens – he asked police whether he would be charged with sexual or indecent assault. When told the latter, Kitson replied: “Oh, that’s OK then.”
Magistrate Tony Murray handed Kitson, 33, a seven-month jail term on the indecent assault charge, setting a three-month non-parole period.
The attack occurred on June 22 about 3.30pm after the victim and a male friend, 20, decided to leave their central Albury unit to spend time by the Murray River.
But on the way they decided to get some food and so headed first to the plaza.
As they were walking, Kitson rode past on a purple BMX bike. He braked and skidded, flinging dirt over the pair. He parked his bike and approached them, asking for a cigarette they said they did not have.
The friend went inside the plaza, which prompted Kitson to talk to the victim about her dog.
He then pulled out the waist band of his pants and looked down at his crutch, leered at the victim and then gazed at his crutch again.
Kitson moved closer to the victim and said “you’re so sexy”.
“At the same time,” police said, “he has grabbed the vaginal area of the victim with his right hand and used his left hand to grab her buttocks, grasping both areas at the same time for a second, over her clothing.”
The girl swore at Kitson as she shoved him away, prompting him to say: “I’m sorry, but you’re so f … g sexy. I need to go into Coles. Can you watch my bike for me?”