SWINDON SUPERVISOR GEARY FERNANDES CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AT LOCAL MCDONALD'S
In a recent court ruling, Geary Tolontino Fernandes, a 34-year-old supervisor employed at a McDonald's branch in Swindon, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a young female trainee who was working at the same location.The conviction was handed down on August 10th at Swindon Magistrates’ Court after a detailed trial that examined the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Fernandes, who resides at Warneford Close in the Toothill area of Swindon, held a supervisory role at the restaurant, which involved training new staff members and providing support to them.
Among those he was responsible for was the victim, a young woman who had recently started her employment at the branch.
Instead of fulfilling his duties professionally, Fernandes engaged in inappropriate conduct that made the victim feel uncomfortable and unsafe.
The incident in question occurred in December of the previous year, within the confines of the restaurant’s freezer section.
According to court testimony, Fernandes sexually assaulted the young woman during this encounter.
Fernandes attempted to justify his actions by claiming that the contact was accidental, a defense that was ultimately dismissed by the presiding judge.
The victim’s testimony was described as compelling and played a significant role in securing the guilty verdict.
Fernandes is scheduled to be sentenced on September 28th.
The case has garnered attention from local authorities and the community, highlighting issues of abuse of power and trust within workplace environments.
Detective Tina Willison, a crime investigator involved in the case, expressed her support for the victim, praising her bravery in coming forward and speaking out both to law enforcement and in court.
She emphasized the importance of such courage in holding perpetrators accountable.
Willison stated, “I want to commend the victim for coming forward and speaking to us about this incident, and for then speaking about it in court.
She has shown remarkable bravery and I’m pleased it has resulted in a guilty verdict for Fernandes today.” Willison further condemned Fernandes’ actions, noting that he exploited his position of authority as a supervisor to prey on a vulnerable new employee.
She described how Fernandes waited until they were alone in the freezer section before committing the assault and then attempted to deny his actions by claiming the contact was not intentional.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding workplace integrity and protecting employees from abuse of power.
