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Young girl sexually assaulted by man in Inverness


By Gregor White

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Inverness Sheriff Court.
Inverness Sheriff Court.

DNA proved visitor to Inverness assaulted teenager

Joachim Bravo was staying in a B&B in Telford Street, Inverness on August 15, 2015.

But after being charged and released on bail a year later – when DNA confirmed the 41-year-old was the assailant – he fled the UK to Portugal.

He had to be extradited to face punishment and was brought back to Scotland in June this year.

Yesterday at Inverness Sheriff Court Bravo admitted the offence and sentence was deferred until September 12 for a background report.

Sheriff Margaret Neilson immediately placed him on the Sex Offenders' Register and his lawyer, Willie Young, made no application for bail.

Fiscal depute Robert Weir told the court that it was early on a Saturday evening that a group of teenagers were in the city.

He said they encountered Bravo in Brown Street who stopped to chat to them before walking away.

Mr Weir went on: "A short time later, they went to a chip shop in Telford Street and the 14-year-old victim stayed outside while the others went in. While she was there, she again encountered Bravo who spoke to her and she went to his room, having requested to use his toilet.

"There he placed his hand under her clothing, inside her bra and handled and kissed her breasts. The others came out to find her absent. They waited for five minutes at which point she came running out of the B&B crying.

"A short time later a member of the public phoned the police to report concerns for the teenager as she was now sitting on the railings of the Black Bridge, visibly upset,

"Shortly after, her sister phoned the police as she had received a phone call from her regarding the incident. Two constables went to the bridge where they found her. She was still upset and crying."

Mr Weir added that Bravo was detained on suspicion of sexual assault the following day and interviewed. DNA samples were taken and he gave "no comment" answers.

His DNA was subsequently found from swabs taken from the girl's chest and her bra.

Mr Young reserved his comments until his client re-appears for sentencing next month.


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