Tongan Seasonal Worker Jailed for Sexual Assault of Teenage Girl in Western Australia
A Seasonal worker from Tonga, Sione Louvi Vaioleti, has been sentenced to two years and ten months in jail for sexually assulting a 15-year-old girl in Western Australia. The assault took place in a car park in the South West area of the state, just minutes after Vaioleti met the victim.
The incident occurred in October 2021 while Vaioleti was working in the Margaret River area. After leaving a local tavern, he encountered the teenager and took her to a darkened car park down an alley, where he sexually assaulted her.
Vaioleti was arrested at the caravan park where he was residing after the victim reported the assault to her parents and friends. He stood trial in February at the Busselton District Court and was found guilty of sexually assaulting a child over 13 but under 16, an alternative charge to the original charge of sexual penetration without consent.
During the trial, the victim testified that she informed Vaioleti of her age and that she was in school. However, Vaioleti maintained that the victim had told him she was 16. Judge John Prior acknowledged Vaioleti’s belief that the victim had consented to the assault but emphasized that the victim was a child under the law.
Vaioleti had consumed alcohol before the assault, which he claimed was his first time as he was a member of a religious group, the Church of the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, Judge Prior ruled that alcohol was not an excuse for the assault.
Moreover, Vaioleti’s failure to use a condom exposed the victim to the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, demonstrating his disregard for her welfare. The Judge noted that the victim was severely impacted by the assault, as evidenced by her victim impact statement, which detailed that she felt she had lost her “innocence, self-worth, and dignity.”
While Judge Prior recognized Vaioleti’s remorse for the assault, he sentenced him to jail time, backdated to February 2022, when he was taken into custody. Vaioleti will have to serve one year and five months in prison before he can apply for parole. After his release, he is likely to be deported to Tonga as a result of his offense.
The incident occurred in October 2021 while Vaioleti was working in the Margaret River area. After leaving a local tavern, he encountered the teenager and took her to a darkened car park down an alley, where he sexually assaulted her.
Vaioleti was arrested at the caravan park where he was residing after the victim reported the assault to her parents and friends. He stood trial in February at the Busselton District Court and was found guilty of sexually assaulting a child over 13 but under 16, an alternative charge to the original charge of sexual penetration without consent.
During the trial, the victim testified that she informed Vaioleti of her age and that she was in school. However, Vaioleti maintained that the victim had told him she was 16. Judge John Prior acknowledged Vaioleti’s belief that the victim had consented to the assault but emphasized that the victim was a child under the law.
Vaioleti had consumed alcohol before the assault, which he claimed was his first time as he was a member of a religious group, the Church of the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, Judge Prior ruled that alcohol was not an excuse for the assault.
Moreover, Vaioleti’s failure to use a condom exposed the victim to the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, demonstrating his disregard for her welfare. The Judge noted that the victim was severely impacted by the assault, as evidenced by her victim impact statement, which detailed that she felt she had lost her “innocence, self-worth, and dignity.”
While Judge Prior recognized Vaioleti’s remorse for the assault, he sentenced him to jail time, backdated to February 2022, when he was taken into custody. Vaioleti will have to serve one year and five months in prison before he can apply for parole. After his release, he is likely to be deported to Tonga as a result of his offense.
