Australian Police Employee Found Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting 13-Year-Old Girl In Elevator

KEY POINTS

Before the assault, Glenn Roche went sightseeing with the girl's family
He said he had chased the girl to the elevator to said goodbye
The girl told the court that Roche's actions were not just unwanted kisses
She said she has been having nightmares since the assault

An Australian police employee has been found guilty of cornering and groping a 13-year-old girl in an elevator in Sydney's Cabramatta Station in July 2019.

In a surveillance video released to the media, Glenn Roche, 54, can be seen chasing the teen into a lift and blocking her exit. The girl cowers on the floor with Roche standing over her. Roche then repeatedly gropes, kisses and fondles the girl as she tries to free herself from his clutches.

The girl managed to escape the assailant, ran to her mother and told her about the incident, reported 7 News.

Prior to the incident, Roche and the girl's family spent the day sightseeing together. What his relationship was to the girl's family remains unclear.

According to the attacker, when he saw the girl run into the elevator, he went in to say goodbye to her.

"My hands have slid up her body, as she slid to the ground," Roche said in an interview with the police. "My mind has gone off on a tangent, like this is a challenge, to me, I can get her and give her a kiss on the cheek like her two sisters and mum."

He also told investigators that his intent was not sexual and that he should have realized that the girl hadn't wanted to be kissed.

"Certainly no sexual gratification on my behalf," Roche said.

"She contributed to that occurring by releasing her body weight and sliding through my hands," he added.

Roche told the Liverpool Magistrate's Court that the chase was a game.

However, the teen told the court that she was afraid of the attacker and Roche's actions were more than just some unwanted kisses. According to her, Roche squeezed her left breast twice when she cowered under him.

She also told the court that she still has nightmares and lives in fear, thinking that something like that will happen again.

Roche was found guilty of indecent assault and has been suspended from his role with the police force, reported the New York Post. He will be sentenced in August.

Despite this, Roche does not believe that he did anything wrong.