Molester stood on stool to touch sleeping woman

A graphic designer found a high stool on his way home and used it to molest a woman sleeping in her bedroom.

Yesterday, Lee Ming Feng, 25, was sentenced to six months' jail for outraging the modesty of the 25-year-old woman at her Housing Board flat in the east on April 20 last year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Kong Kuek Foo said the victim was sleeping when she felt someone touching her left breast at about 4.30am.

She woke up and noticed a hand retreating outside the window. She told her parents what happened.

Her father looked out of his bedroom window and saw Lee holding onto a high stool.

He shouted at Lee and, with help from his two sons, found him nearby and called the police.

When he reached the victim's bedroom window, he placed the high stool on the ground, climbed onto it and extended his hand through the window opening to tap the victim's breast.

Citing aggravating factors, Mr Kong said Lee violated the victim's privacy while she was in her own house. The molestation was clearly deliberate, he said.

Lee pleaded for a chance and said he was very sorry and deeply regretted his action.

Agreeing that there were aggravating factors, District Judge May Mesenas said people are meant to feel safe in their homes.

She noted that Lee did not go straight home after finding the stool but went to another block to commit the offence.

"The way it was done, how you have done it to gain access to someone's home, that is aggravating," she said.

Lee, who is out on $15,000 bail, will start his jail term on Feb 23.

elena@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 10, 2015.
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