A FORMER Wodonga resident has been jailed for five months following a sexual assault against a 16-year-old girl.
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Pradeep Lobert was recently sentenced in the County Court following the incident on April 16, 2017.
The victim, referred to by the pseudonym “Heidi” in court, woke to find Lobert on top of her in her bedroom.
She had been in a dressing gown, which he opened, and was wearing a skirt which he moved above her waist.
He was touching her all over her body and kissing her inner thigh.
The victim screamed when she realised what was going on, waking up her boyfriend and friend.
Her boyfriend chased him out of the home.
About an hour after the incident, Lobert sent a photograph of himself to the girl on Facebook asking if she was “the chick that was at J’s birthday party”.
He denied his offending and claimed he had been trying to get his wallet from under the bed.
She gave evidence to police the following month about what occurred and Lobert was arrested on May 31.
He denied even being at the party, and instead claimed to have been passed out from drug use at his home.
He claimed to have been with a friend, but couldn’t name them, and denied knowing the victim, but eventually pleaded guilty.
The court heard the victim “felt dirty, really disgusted with herself” after the ordeal and feared she would have a meltdown if she saw him again.
“She wants it to be "all over" and for her to be "me again".” judge Sue Pullen said.
Lobert, who grew up in the North East and used to live in Wodonga, began smoking ice after a relationship breakdown and has taken GHB, sleeping pills and anti-depressants, and has priors for drug trafficking.
The judge said his lack of remorse and insight was “concerning”.
She ordered he undertake 200 hours of community work as part of a corrections order, which will run for two-and-a-half years, once he is released from jail.