A 55-year-old man has admitted groping a 17-year-old male during an indecent assault.

Reynaldo Tagic Estoque, of Central Promenade, Douglas, kissed the teenager’s neck, grabbed his crotch area and then asked him ’do you want to have some fun?’.

Estoque pleaded guilty to indecent assault on an adult and will be sentenced June 22 after a probation report has been completed.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court that Estoque knew the victim socially previously but met him by chance on September 17 in Strand Street.

He offered to buy the teenager food so they went to Victoria Grill where they talked about music.

Estoque then invited the teenager to his flat saying he had a guitar and piano there.

Once there, he was said to have sat on a bed next to the victim and started making suggestive comments.

The teenager moved away and started to play the piano but Estoque followed him and started sniffing his face and kissing his neck.

The victim then told Estoque he was not interested but he was then said to have grabbed the teenager’s groin area and said: ’Do you want to have some fun?’

The teenager said he had to leave to get a bus but Estoque then grabbed his crotch area again.

complainant

They both left the flat with Estoque offering the complainant a lift but he declined.

Estoque was then said to have insisted on walking with the teenager to Lord Street and asked him for a date the following week.

The matter was later reported to police and Estoque was arrested.

Mr Kane said that, although the complainant was not a child and he would not be applying for a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, the disparity in age was relevant and that there had been a hint of grooming in Estoque’s behaviour.

Mr Kane submitted that the case was suitable for sentencing in summary court.

Defence advocate Deborah Myerscough pointed out that the assault had taken place over clothing and said that references had been received for her client.

Ms Myerscough agreed that the case should remain in summary court for sentencing.

The court heard that Estoque has no previous convictions.

Magistrates accepted jurisdiction and he will be sentenced in summary court - which impose shorter sentences than the Court of General Gaol.

Bail was granted in the sum of £500 with conditions not to contact the complainant, live at his home address, contact probation and not leave the island without consent from the courts.