Serial bottom-pincher avoids jail term

An Australian pervert who indecently assaulted four women in an hour has avoided jail, but been ordered to seek counselling. Benjamin Tobitt, 27, of Croydon, wept and shook uncontrollably during his Adelaide Magistrates Court appearance yesterday. On March 21 this year, he terrorised young women at bus stops and car parks by following and molesting them. Tobitt claims to have no memory of stalking and assaulting women who had caught his lecherous eye. Magistrate Alfio Grasso ruled that did not mitigate his offences, and handed him a 20-month suspended sentence.

"These offences are serious because they are numerous and repetitive," Mr Grasso said. "There is absolutely no doubt these females would have been frightened, terrified in fact, by your actions. Personal deterrence is important (as) this offending is clearly not out of character for you." Tobitt pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, one count of common assault, and one count of stalking. He attacked his first victim in a Rundle St car park in February by "firmly pinching her" on the bottom. Subsequent victims were attacked in car parks and at bus stops.



Tobitt would follow them to their cars before pinching their bottoms, or grabbing or punching their breasts. His attacks on four women in one hour on March 21 were recorded by CCTV. Prosecutor Christopher Brannan asked Tobitt serve an immediate jail term. "This is a large number of offences in a very limited period of time," he said. "These women deserve to be able to exercise their right not to be accosted." He said Tobitt had escaped a conviction for similar offending in 2001.

Tobitt's lawyers said their client had no memory of the attacks, and believed he was drunk. They pointed to his social anxiety disorder, saying jail was "not in his best interests". Mr Grasso agreed to suspend the jail term, but ordered Tobitt undertake sex offender treatment. "If you reoffend, you will go into custody, understand?" he said. Tobitt composed himself long enough to reply: "I absolutely understand, Your Honour."