A MAN who repeatedly groped a teenage Cirencester girl's breasts and bought her a vibrator has been warned he may be jailed.
Portuguese-born Joao de Sousa, of St Michael's Road, Cirencester, aged 41, pleaded not guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to five offences of sexual activity with the girl when she was 13 years old between May 2011 and June 2012 and another five when she was 14 the following year.
After a four-day trial the jury convicted him of all ten offences and he was bailed last Thursday for a pre-sentence report. He will be sentenced on a date to be fixed in November.
He said he had only touched the girl's breast once when she was concerned she might have a lump and he examined her. But the girl told the jury that he would touch her breasts, both under and over her clothing, whenever he saw her and had the opportunity.
She said he also bought her a vibrator and made various sexual remarks to her.
The jury heard that a neighbour had witnessed de Sousa grabbing the girl's breasts.
De Sousa denied having any sexual interest in children.
Bailing de Sousa pending sentence Judge William Hart warned him that all sentencing options, including imprisonment, would be open to the court.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article