He molested primary schoolgirls

Since he was 15, he has been focused on molesting a particular set of girls - those in primary school.

James Jerome Marius, now 18, first targeted an 11-year-old in 2012.

He then attacked a 12-year-old in 2013, then a nine-year-old in 2014.

Yesterday, he was sentenced to reformative training after pleading guilty to three counts of outrage of modesty, and one count each of theft and theft of a motorcycle.

His crime spree began on Dec 4, 2012, when he stopped the 11-year-old girl while she was cycling in Hougang and asked her for directions. As she was heading home, she noticed he was tailing her on his bicycle.

Marius approached her again when they reached her block of flats and asked her to follow him, claiming he had something to tell her. She obliged as she was afraid that he might harm her if she refused.

At a washing bay, he dragged her to an area between two pillars, pulled down her pants and underwear, and molested her.

She shouted for help and he used his left hand to cover her mouth. She wanted to leave, but he asked her to hug him first, which she did. She then ran to a nearby carpark and alerted a taxi driver, who called the police.

Marius struck again in Hougang on July 20, 2013, when he followed a 12-year-old girl into a lift at her block of flats. As she was stepping out on her floor, he wished her "good luck" before molesting her.

Marius targeted his third victim as she was walking home from school in the same estate on Aug 26, 2014. He talked to her and molested her when she wanted to leave.

The court also heard that on June 12 last year, he went to the Selffix DIY store at Serangoon Central's Nex shopping mall and stole a soldering torch worth $29.70.

He was arrested on Nov 4 last year.

But on Nov 17 last year, he and two friends stole a white Suzuki motorbike worth $6,500 at the basement carpark of ITE College East in Simei.

Marius' two friends have been given stern warnings in lieu of prosecution.

In court yesterday, Assistant Public Prosecutor Dillon Kok highlighted to District Judge Mathew Joseph that probation was not recommended for Marius, and that stronger deterrent measures were required.

Those given reformative training have to spend between 18 months and three years in a training centre. For wrongfully restraining and molesting the girls, Marius could have been jailed up to 10 years and caned.

ashaffiq@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on March 9, 2016.
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