A teenage boy who groped a reality TV star while she was out on her morning walk could avoid any punishment.
Ellie Rolfe, who was one of two winners of season 11 of The Bachelor, encountered the boy on April 30 about 7.30am in the Geraldton suburb of Wandina in WA.
A court this week heard the 17-year-old rode by on his bike and said ‘hello’ before circling back and using his right hand to grab Ms Rolfe on her buttocks, causing her to drop her phone and yell ‘you f*** off’.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a minor, pleaded guilty to indecent assault during an appearance at Geraldton Children’s Court on Tuesday, reports Perth Now.
The police prosecutor told the court the incident was captured on CCTV and the boy fronted up to a police station about week later.
‘I’m sorry, I made a stupid mistake,’ he told officers.
The teenager’s defence lawyer told the court the incident was out of character and suggested a youth court order, which would likely include counselling, might be an appropriate outcome.
‘It was a lapse of his judgment… I’m not sure as to what programs or intervention court conferencing are going to be able to provide with regard to this type of offence.’
Bachelors winner Ellie Rolfe, 30, said she was sexually assaulted by a man on a bike during her morning walk
Magistrate Matthew Walton said he had some concerns but referred the boy to .court conferencing which would determine the details the youth court order.
If that is completed without issue, the court does not impose a punishment.
Ms Rolfe, 30, posted to Instagram a day after her encounter with the boy.
‘You wont find me using this platform to speak on my political views or virtue signal… but this has really p***ed me off,’ she wrote.
‘I was just on my morning walk and this boy probably my age rode his bike past me and said hey to which I acknowledge politely.’
She posted a ‘rant’ to her Stories, explaining a man allegedly followed her on his bicycle before coming up and grabbing her bottom without consent
‘Then he followed me around the block twice and circled back and rode up behind me and fully groped my a*** and then zoomed off.
‘It knocked the phone out of my hand cause it gave me such a fright.
‘No words! How is that okay in your head… Huge mental health advocate and you never know what someone is going through but this is just utter disrespect.
‘Not even safe on a morning walk in broad daylight.’
The matter will return to court on September 24 and the boy’s bail was extended.
The incident comes after her ex-boyfriend Luke, 28, confirmed the pair split after they found love on last year’s version of The Bachelors.
The beauty therapist who recently split from TV boyfriend Luke Bateman, took to Instagram with a lengthy message detailing the ‘scary’ event
Luke declared his love for Ellie while filming and they remained the only couple still together after the final episode.
In a statement released to Yahoo Lifestyle last month, Luke confirmed the split, saying: ‘Ellie and I have separated and would like to keep our relationship private.
‘Ellie has a soul that lights up every room she walks into and I will sorely miss it in my life.’
Rumours of the couple’s separation arose weeks earlier when eagle-eyed fans noticed Luke had deleted almost all traces of Ellie from his Instagram page.
Meanwhile, Ellie posted a gallery of photos to Instagram capturing her attending Melbourne Fashion Week at the time – and Luke was nowhere in sight.
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