A pervert who groped a woman outside the Grand Hotel had a whinge to police when he was busted, telling them he saw nothing wrong with "pinching a sheila on the bum".
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Rod Carpenter, an unemployed 57-year-old from Balgownie, told police he "couldn't believe" he was getting arrested over the December 11 incident, describing such a development as "bullshit".
Documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court this week said the 34-year-old victim had a drink at the hotel before going outside to have a cigarette.
Less than a minute later, Carpenter also came out of the hotel and paused behind the woman, who was standing on the pavement with her legs slightly apart.
Carpenter then walked up behind her, reached between her legs and grabbed her on the crotch with his right hand.
The woman later told police the touch was forceful enough she felt Carpenter's hand on her vagina.
She spun around and confronted him, yelling "Jesus, what the f--k?"
Carpenter walked a few steps down the road before turning around, prompting the woman to tell him "go f--k yourself".
Carpenter responded by saying "what are you going to do about it" then walked off.
The victim, shocked at what had just happened, went back into the hotel and asked security staff if they had CCTV footage showing the front of the venue.
The woman reported the matter to police a few days later. Officers obtained video footage of the incident and arrested Carpenter at the Cabbage Tree Hotel in Fairy Meadow on the afternoon of December 23.
Police said Carpenter continually muttered under his breath "this is f--king bullshit, I can't believe this" during the arrest before saying "what? Pinch a sheila on the bum? What's wrong with that?"
He then went off on the following bizarre tangent: "I'm not cranky or anything, I just can't believe it. I will put my hand up, I pinched her on the bum. She shouldn't have ripped me off the day before. Is her name Jackie? I bought her a drink the day before and I was trying to be cheeky about it.
"I totally apologise, it wasn't who I thought it was. I feel like such an idiot knowing that I have done that to someone I didn't know."
Carpenter was charged with sexual touching without consent, to which he pleaded guilty. He will face sentencing on March 31.
