A MAN WHO carried out a “shocking, brutal and cowardly sexual assault” on an “unsuspecting woman” walking her dog in a Co Cork park has been jailed for six years.
He was released from custody on 11 December, 2020 and travelled to Ireland to stay with his mother on 29 December. He said Veste used a hat as a gag to prevent the woman crying out and used his knees to hold her down by her shoulders.“It was a terrifying experience”, the judge said before he added that the woman was walking alone in a dark and unlit park, but it was a park she was familiar with and she felt “entirely safe”.The judge commented on the woman’s bravery in fighting back against Veste, scratching his face and neck, biting and kicking him.
He said the evidence from that conviction was that the relationship had been consensual and that Veste had been six years older than the girl.Mr Justice McDermott said the aggravating features in the current case included the random and predatory nature of the attack and the fact that the woman was attacked from behind when she was alone in the dark.