Appeal court cuts sentence for man who sexually assaulted sleeping flatmate

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Court of Appeal reduced the sentence of an unnamed 29-year-old Italian man who had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his flatmate while she slept on a couch in their Dublin home. The court found the original sentence excessive and resentenced him to two-and-a-half years in prison, with the final six months suspended.

The court also ordered him to stay away from the injured woman for four years. The sentencing court had heard that she awoke to find him assaulting her; he later claimed to gardaí that the sexual activity was consensual before admitting his actions.