George Albert Edward Windie gets two-year jail term for Batavia Inne sexual assault of 12-year-old girl

A man jailed for more than two years this week for his role in the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl at the former Batavia Motor Inne is already eligible to walk free. With time already served in custody, George Albert Edward Windie is now eligible for parole. He appeared in Geraldton District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to pleading guilty to two counts of indecently dealing with a child under 13 years in a circumstance of aggravation. On March 15 last year, Windie and a co-accused were in Geraldton city centre about midday when they met their victim. Windie was 39 at the time, and in the company of the 12-year-old, who had run away from home that day, alongside the co-accused, a 46-year-old man. The men gave the girl alcohol, and took escorted her to the then- derelict and abandoned motel, where the co-accused had been living. The State prosecutor said “the victim was heavily intoxicated and couldn’t walk without assistance”. The girl sat on a mattress, and Windie removed her jumper and top, placing his hand under her bra to touch her breast. The victim lay down, then sat back up, and Windie grabbed her face and kissed her on the mouth. The court was told Windie’s co-accused is alleged to have raped the girl while Windie was in the room. Windie’s defence lawyer George Giudice said his client maintained he was not in the room at the time. Windie was located on March 29, 2023, and taken to the Geraldton police station where he was interviewed by two female police officers, and made partial admissions. “He did deny any offending in the view of police. He said if they had been male officers he would’ve confessed there and then as he felt ashamed,” Mr Giudice said. District Court Judge Michael Bowden told Windie: “Clearly you took advantage of her in the circumstances of her age and you knew she had consumed alcohol.” Windie was given two jail terms, one of two years and three months, and one of eight months, to be served concurrently. His sentence was backdated to March 29 last year, and he is eligible for parole after serving 13 months, which he completed last month.