A 28-year-old County Tyrone man has appeared in court accused of sexually assaulting a random teenage girl on a bus, with the entire incident caught on CCTV.
Jude Semple, from Delaney Crescent, Strabane is charged with sexually touching and assaulting the girl as well as causing her to engage in sexual activity.
A detective constable told a special sitting of Dungannon Magistrates’ Court the charges could be connected.
He said that on April 24, Semple left Waterside Custody in Derry/Londonderry having been released on bail for public order matters and immediately purchased alcohol.
Having drunk this, he boarded a bus for Strabane and the teenager sat in the seat beside him.
She was described as having moderate learning difficulties and during the journey Semple allegedly touched her groin, then lifted her hand and placed it on his genitals several times.
It is further claimed he grabbed her face and tried to kiss her.
When the girl arrived home she told her mother who contacted police.
Semple was traced and arrested and, “by his own account confirmed drinking the alcohol prior to boarding the bus. This was despite being on pre-charge bail conditions banning the consumption of alcohol”.
Objecting to bail the detective said the entire incident was captured on CCTV which has been obtained from Translink, adding the defendant is “a risk to a vulnerable female and there have been previous incidents involving different injured parties”.
These included two allegations of rape, one of which was in the last six months also involving a vulnerable female, however, the Public Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with it.
There was also an alleged incident a few years ago involving a young teenager, however, no complaint was forthcoming.
A defence barrister said it was the alleged injured party who approached Semple on the bus and there’s no indication he “sought her out”.
He continued: “There’s nothing to show she gets up or alerts anyone else to being in difficulty. The defendant used her phone to contact his home and gave her his real name.”
The detective confirmed the footage caught Semple showing the alleged injured party a piece of paper which had his details on it and police believe this was his custody release form.
As a result the complainant was able to provide Semple’s name to police who located him at the home of a family member.
The defence contended there was no risk of contact or witness interference as neither the defendant nor complainant previously knew each other and it was a case of “two strangers on a bus”.
Arguing Semple could be released with conditions, the defence stated: “Police were content to release him on bail ahead of this alleged incident in which the injured party approached him and there was an ongoing interaction and they both part ways.
“There’s no evidence in the CCTV that she tried to leave or alert anyone during the journey. It wasn’t the injured party but her mother who alerted police. There will be triable issues down the line around reasonable belief of consent.”
He stressed: “This was a chance encounter on a public bus. The previous allegations were considered by the PPS and police, but not proceeded with, for whatever reason. I suggested the court place little weight on them when deciding on the issue of bail.”
But refusing bail, District Judge Alana McSorley said: “I’ve taken into consideration the age and vulnerability of the injured party and there’s a risk of witness interference and further offending.”
Semple will appear again by video-link on 22 May.
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