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Mathew Forrester leaves Eastern Court in Sai Wan Ho on Monday. Photo: Dickson Lee

Drunken sailor fined for assaulting Wan Chai waitress

A United States Navy crewman was fined HK$1,000 in Eastern Court on Monday after pleading guilty to assaulting a waitress after drinking too much in Wan Chai last month.

Mathew Forrester, 25, pleaded not guilty to a charge of indecent assault, but pleaded guilty to the prosecution's alternative charge of common assault.

Solicitor Niall Giblin, for the defence, said Forrester had been drinking with a number of his colleagues in Wan Chai on April 17 after their ship had arrived in Hong Kong.

The court heard that Forrester, who admitted to having drunk too much alcohol, collided with the victim, a woman in her 40s, and grabbed her right breast while she was doing cleaning work on the pavement outside a food shop where she worked as a waitress.

Magistrate Li Kwok-wai, in explanation of his ruling, said Forrester had shown remorse by apologising to the victim and paying her HK$20,000 in compensation.

 

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