Drunk Pilbara groper Shaun McGuire spared immediate jail term by South Hedland court

A Port Hedland man who pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a woman in front of her son while in lockdown has been sentenced to an eight-month suspended term of imprisonment. Shaun McGuire, 61, appeared in South Hedland Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday after pleading guilty to the aggravated indecent assault of a 29-year-old woman in Perth earlier this year. McGuire, pictured, last appeared on May 3, when his sentencing was adjourned so his defence could obtain “legible” copies of the victim impact statement. On the evening of January 28, an intoxicated McGuire entered the woman’s bedroom, which she shared with the child, and woke her. He tried to touch her breasts and grope her below the waist. The court was told the child woke during the ordeal and repeatedly pleaded with McGuire “no, stop”. In closing submissions, McGuire’s defence said he had undergone 15 counselling sessions following his guilty plea and had taken measures to address his “problem” behaviour. He said McGuire showed “some remorse” for what had happened and was unlikely to reoffend. The court was told McGuire had lost his job as a result of the charge but had recently been offered contract work with the Pilbara Ports Authority. In sentencing, Magistrate Gavin MacLean, who previously described the incident as “abhorrent”, said he had taken his early plea and rehabilitation efforts into account. He said pre-sentencing and psychological reports concluded McGuire had issues with regulating his behaviour, including understanding the “subtleties of communications”. Police prosecution said regardless of the sentence, programs to deter such behaviour were “good for deterrence”. McGuire was ordered to complete an eight-month suspended imprisonment sentence. His wife appeared in the back of the courtroom.