Man admits grabbing crotch in front of teen

A 51-year-old man today admitted grabbing himself in front of a 15-year-old boy at Horseshoe Bay Beach.

Jose Fernando Serodio, 51, was swimming at the beach on August 2 when he approached the victim at 1:45pm.

He began to wink at the victim, then grabbed his hand and pulled on his middle finger.

Serodio said: “This is the size of your penis when erected.”

The court heard the complainant and his family immediately left the area.

But Serodio came back over to them with a visible erection.

He then grabbed his crotch. The boy tried to walk away, but Serodio grabbed him and squeezed his hand.

The boy and his family reported the matter to the lifeguards. Police arrived and arrested Serodio who denied the allegations.

In court this morning, Serodio pleaded guilty to doing an indecent act in a public place and assaulting the boy.

The charges were translated to him in Portuguese via a translator.

Duty counsel Oonagh Vaucrosson, mitigating for Serodio said: “He apologises to the court for these offences.

“This particular day, he had been drinking at home. He travelled to Horseshoe Bay Beach where he figured he was having an innocent conversation with this young gentleman.

“I wasn’t aware that what he was doing was an offence. He meant no harm by doing it.

“It’s been made clear to him now that this was entirely inappropriate.”

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner adjourned the matter to September 27 and ordered pre-sentencing reports.

Serodio was granted $5,000 bail with one surety.