A 26-year-old man has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a teenage girl on a bus in Hartlepool, leaving her terrified and distressed
Hartlepool: A young girl had a terrifying experience when Takudzwa Dokotera decided to follow her off the bus. He wouldn’t leave her alone while she waited at the bus stop.
This 26-year-old guy was eventually caught after he dozed off nearby, as the court heard. The prosecutor, Victoria Lamballe, explained that the girl was alone on the bus when he sat next to her.
She noticed he seemed drunk, stumbling onto the bus, which made her uneasy. Then, he pulled out his phone and angled it in a way that made her think he was trying to take her picture. Naturally, she tried to cover her face.
Things got worse when he put his hand on her thigh and started to stroke her, which left her panicking and unsure of what to do. After she got off the bus, he followed her and kept harassing her until someone stepped in to help.
Dokotera, who lives on Hamilton Road in Hartlepool, admitted to sexual assault after the incident that happened on February 26 last year. His lawyer said that being drunk made his actions worse, but he did plead guilty right away.
The lawyer also mentioned how frightening this must have been for the girl, especially since he followed her after she got off the bus. Judge Timothy Stead gave him a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, due to his alarming behavior while intoxicated.
He also received a ten-year restraining order and has to register as a sex offender for the same length of time. Plus, he’s required to stay sober for 90 days, do 150 hours of community service, and attend 55 rehabilitation sessions.
