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​Man Who Groped Mother Of Two Said He 'Had To Do It'

​Man Who Groped Mother Of Two Said He 'Had To Do It'

The moment was also caught on CCTV, and even captures the man smiling into cameras after the assault - before he tries to grope her again

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

A young woman who was returning home after a morning walk was groped by a random man at the front of her building, has said his defence was simply: "Sorry, I just had to do it, you have the best arse."

Credit: 9 News

Jesse Ratu, 24, was apparently unlocking the door to her apartment in Southport on the Gold Coast when the stranger came up to her from behind and grabbed her backside, slapping it several times.

The moment was also caught on CCTV, and even captures the man smiling into cameras after the assault, Gold Coast Bulletins reports.

"He said: 'Sorry, I just had to do it, you have the best arse," the terrified mum of two explained.

You can see from the CCTV footage that as he says it, he grins at her. You'll also notice that before Jesse was able to walk away, the man even tried to slap her backside yet again

9 News

Jesse was wearing headphones at the time, which meant it took her a few moments to realise what was happening. She then said she told the man not to touch her, before running inside to tell her partner, Brendan Wilson, what had happened.

"I just buzzed in, and that's when he grabbed my bum, like, five times, and I pushed the door open and I think I just said: 'Don't touch me'," she said.

"That was disgusting, to say the least."

Unfortunately, by the time Brendan was able to run outside to track the assaulter down, he had long fled the area.

"We've only been here for six months," Ms Ratu said in an interview with 9 News.

"We're now thinking about moving. I've always lived in Southport but never lived down this end."

9 News

The sales assistant and mum of two said that she felt too scared to turn back, out of fear that she would be picked up and 'stolen'. She also said that the incident has left her too traumatised to walk outside alone anymore.

"I shouldn't really be worried to walk in my own street, so I probably won't be doing that anymore," Jesse told 9 News.

Brendan Wiblen, senior sergeant of the Gold Coast Police said that, although assaults of this nature are not common, authorities are taking the offence very seriously.

"This was a very disturbing incident for the young woman, fortunately, unprovoked assaults in the street are very rare," he said.

Featured Image Credit: 9 News

Topics: World News, Australia News, News, Assault