Lucky escape | 

Man who sexually assaulted girl (14) on bus is given suspended jail sentence

Vimalkarthick Balasubramaniam (27) sat beside the victim and concealed his hand with a bag before rubbing her leg and trying to put his hand up her skirt, a court had heard.

Today at 07:35

A data engineer who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old schoolgirl who was sitting alone on a Dublin bus has avoided a jail sentence.

Vimalkarthick Balasubramaniam (27) sat beside the victim and concealed his hand with a bag before rubbing her leg and trying to put his hand up her skirt, a court had heard.

Judge David McHugh imposed a four-month sentence which he suspended for two years.

The accused, with an address in west Dublin, had previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

Garda James Byrne previously told Blanchardstown District Court that the girl was travelling home on a bus from the city centre on the afternoon of April 26 this year when a “lone male” got on and sat next to her.

Balasubramaniam placed his right hand on the girl’s left thigh and he rubbed her leg with his thumb, under her school skirt. The girl believed this to be intentional and told her family when she went home.

The girl and her mother then went to a garda station and she reported she had been touched inappropriately.

The victim later told a specialist garda interviewer that the defendant had placed a bag on his lap which covered his hand and she felt movement on her leg. His whole hand was there but she felt his finger rubbing and she said he tried to put his hand up her skirt above the knee.

She gave gardaí a description of the accused, who was later identified and charged.

The court previously heard Balasubramaniam was originally from India. He was a data app engineer and was married. He had since lost his job.The case was before the court for sentencing and the preparation of a victim impact statement.

However, Judge McHugh was told that a victim impact statement was not available. The victim wished to forget about the incident and move on with her life, the court heard.