Thabani Maposa’s address was given as the Roundhouse Hotel in Bournemouth (Image: Google Street View)
A hotel migrant assaulted a 14-year-old girl at a holiday park after offering her group of friends whisky, cannabis and cocaine, a court has heard. Thabani Maposa, 45, knocked on a caravan door at a park in Weymouth, Dorset, where a group of six children aged 12 to 15 were socialising.
Maposa claimed he was staying with his family in a caravan next door at Seaview Holiday Park. He asked the children to keep the noise down. The group of pals, who had been given permission to drink alcohol by their parents, said they would, but he then invited himself in. He told them he could get them booze or class A drugs and asked the girl to join him to show them how to signal to him what they wanted.
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Maposa said if they saw him in the holiday park club area they should touch him in certain areas to get his attention. He proceeded to put his arm around the back of the victim, touching her shoulder and saying this was the signal if they wanted cannabis.
Maposa then put his arm around the girl again, grabbing her waist to show how to alert him if they wanted whisky or cocaine.
At that point, an older boy came out of another room in the caravan and told Maposa to “f*** off”. The boy threw Maposa’s jacket outside and when the defendant went to fetch it the lad locked the caravan door behind him.
Police were called and arrested Maposa, who denied assaulting the girl at the holiday park on May 23 last year. He failed to show up at his trial at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court. It was held in his absence.
Maposa’s current address was given as the Roundhouse Hotel in Bournemouth, more than 30 miles away from the holiday park. His nationality and immigration status were not revealed in court.
Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, said Maposa in his police interview accepted he went into the caravan but denied touching the girl.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was “scared” by Maposa’s behaviour.
Ms Valera told the court that Maposa was a tall, muscular black man who spoke English with an accent, but was understandable.
The court heard the girl recall Maposa pulling her in and being very close to her. She said: “I didn’t want him to touch me. I was really scared and didn’t know what was going to happen.”
A friend who had been in the caravan told the court: “He started touching her on the hip and shoulder. I could tell she was uncomfortable in that situation.”
The court heard Maposa claimed in his police interview that he had asked to come inside the caravan to speak to an adult as the group were so noisy.
He had told officers the children were “lippy” with him and he told them he did not care if they were taking drugs or drinking as everyone was doing it at the holiday park.
Maposa said he was only in the caravan for five minutes and did not touch the child. But he was found guilty of one count of assault by beating by magistrates who said the victim’s evidence was “credible”.
Magistrate Martyn McCarthy said: “We give credence to the fact that there was touching as both (girls who gave evidence) were credible witnesses. Having heard the evidence and it being noted the defendant didn’t appear the court finds the defendant guilty. The warrant appeal has been granted.”
A warrant has been issued for Maposa’s arrest.