adminA 42-YEAR-OLD Bulilima man will spend the next year in prison for fondling his neighbour’s breasts and inserting his hand in her private parts.
A naked Forget Ndlovu of Tshivako area in Madlambudzi forgot his manners and broke into Ivy Ndlovu’s bedroom while she was asleep with her children. He started fondling her breasts and started touching her private parts causing her to wake up.
The complainant (31) and her children woke up startled and saw a naked man running out of their homestead into the bushes. The court heard that the complainant fled from the homestead with her children and they spent the rest of the night at her brother’s home.
Ndlovu was later arrested the following morning while at his homestead. He appeared before Plumtree magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvetsa facing a charge of unlawful entry and indecent assault.
Mr Ruvetsa sentenced Ndlovu to 18 months imprisonment of which six months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit an offence of the same nature.
Ndlovu, who pleaded to be forgiven, told the court that he was drunk.
“Your Worship I am sorry I did not do it on purpose but I was under the influence of alcohol. I do not even remember removing my clothes or entering that house.
“The complainant is my neighbour and I have high respect for her. I would have not done such a shameful thing on purpose,” he said.
Mr Ruvetsa dismissed his plea.
“If there is anyone to blame in this case it is you and not the alcohol. You are an elderly man and you should be in a position to control your drinking habits. If you are going to get drunk up to the extent of stripping naked without knowing then it just shows that you are an irresponsible person,” he said.
Prosecuting, Mr Medica Tshuma said Ndlovu broke into the complainant’s home on 2 May at around 1am. He found her asleep with four of her children aged between one and 13 years.
He started fondling her, causing the complainant to wake up. Ndlovu fled from the house after realising that he had been spotted. The complainant alerted other villagers who tracked Ndlovu’s shoe prints from her house. They found him at his homestead where he admitted to have fondled his neighbour.
Online Reporter