Soldier jailed for horrific sexual assault on teenage girl on bus

SOLDIER JAILED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ASSAULT ON TEENAGE GIRL ON BUS

A drunken soldier who carried out a horrific sexual assault on a teenage girl while they were traveling on the top deck of a bus has been sentenced to jail and will be added to the sex offenders register.

Joape Kotobalavu, 29, sat next to the terrified victim on the top deck of a Lothian bus and forcibly kissed and licked her face.

The 16-year-old girl recounted to the court that when she tried to pull away, he said, “It's not like I’m going to rape or assault you.” She was forced to jump over an empty seat to escape the attack in October 2022.

The girl was emotional when explaining how she called her mother after fleeing, feeling scared and disgusted.

Kotobalavu, a member of the Royal Regiment of Scotland 2nd Battalion and a Fijian national residing in the UK since 2019, denied any wrongdoing but was found guilty of sexually assaulting her through forced kissing and licking.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, and his name will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

During the trial, disturbing CCTV footage was shown that captured Kotobalavu touching her and leaning in for kisses.

The court also revealed he is facing a court martial next month for a similar offence.

The Scottish sheriff highlighted that Kotobalavu had “re-traumatised” the victim by forcing her to testify and showed “no remorse” for his actions, although she praised the girl’s strength for not exaggerating her account.