A Thurlese man has been jailed for three years by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court for an aggravated sexual assault on a prostitute in Cork city in June 2000.
David Power (20), Brittas, Thurles, pleaded guilty to the aggravated sexual assault of a 28-year-old prostitute in a car-park near Fitton Road in Cork around midnight on June 2nd, 2000.
He was a member of the Army at the time, attached to Collins Barracks in Cork, but has since left the Defence Forces.
Mr Justice Carney suspended the last year of the sentence, taking into account Power's guilty plea.
Det Garda Donal O'Connell told prosecuting counsel, Mr Michael Counihan SC, that Power approached the woman on Fitton Street around midnight and agreed with her that she would masturbate him for £40. She took him to a nearby car park attached to a hotel. As they walked in the gate, he grabbed her by the back of the head and pushed her to the ground.
Det Garda O'Connell said the woman fell on her face and Power pulled down her lower garments. He twisted her right arm behind her, knelt on her back and grabbed her throat when she tried to scream. She managed to elbow him in the chest and knock him backwards. The victim ran away but noticed he was following her so she started screaming again. Some men nearby and staff at the hotel heard her and came to her assistance. Power ran off when he saw them.
Gardaí were called and went to inspect the car-park. When they were there, Power returned looking for his jacket. The gardaí identified him from the woman's description and arrested him.