A man is awaiting sentencing after he admitted yesterday to inappropriately touching a teenage girl.

Gary Williams, 48, pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court to intruding on the privacy of a child.

Williams, who initially denied the offence, chose to reverse his plea before the start of his trial.

The court heard that Williams and the girl, aged 16, met through work and that he started poked her sides with his finger during the week of February 19 this year.

In another instance of inappropriate behaviour, the girl was cleaning work equipment in the business’s bathroom when Williams entered and said he needed to use it.

The victim left the room, but Williams told her “You can stay, just don’t look”, to which she said the comment was “disgusting”.

The behaviour culminated on March 1 when Williams began tapping on her shoulders as the victim changed her shoes in the back of the business.

The girl later described Williams’s behaviour in a call to her friend, who then complained to the business.

Williams was reported to police and he was arrested that month.

The court heard that Williams admitted to the incidents during the police interview and tearfully added: “I’m sorry”.

Magistrate Auralee Cassidy ordered a social inquiry report for Williams, from Pembroke, and adjourned the case until October 31 for sentencing. She extended his bail until then.

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