Army corporal and personal trainer 'sexually assaulted two girls, aged 11 and 12, as he offered to show them how to stretch after their gymnastic routines'

  • An Iraq veteran allegedly sexually assaulted two young young girls at a WA park
  • Stuart Bugeja, 36, offered to show the two girls, aged 11 and 12, how to stretch 
  • Prosecutors allege he touched the girls between their legs and on their buttocks
  • The girls filmed the incident on a mobile phone, it was played to a jury this week
  • He is charged with indecently dealing with a child under 13, charges he denies

An Army corporal trainer and personal trainer allegedly sexually assaulted two young girls as he offered to show them how to stretch at a park.

Stuart Bugeja, 36, was exercising with his dog Rusty at Arpenteur Park in Baldivis, Western Australia, last January when he came into contact with two local schoolgirls aged 11 and 12 who were also exercising at the park.

Bugeja offered the girls, who were there with younger siblings and friends, advice on stretches, back bends and other gymnastic moves, WA's District Court heard on Tuesday.

Bugeja (pictured) offered the girls, who were there with younger siblings and friends, advice on stretches, back bends and other gymnastic moves, WA's District Court heard on Tuesday

Bugeja (pictured) offered the girls, who were there with younger siblings and friends, advice on stretches, back bends and other gymnastic moves, WA's District Court heard on Tuesday

Prosecutors allege Bugeja touched the two girls indecently, on their buttocks and between their legs, while encouraging them to hold their stretches, The West reported.

In recorded interviews with the police, the 11-year-old girl said she felt so uncomfortable she stopped physically interacting with the Iraq veteran.

'He touched me inappropriately… and I knew what was going on. It wasn't normal for him to touch me there,' she told the police.

One of the girls filmed the encounter with Bugeja on her mobile phone and the footage was played to a jury this week.

In the footage, Bugeja was heard counting the time the girls held their stretches, before the girls asked him if he was a teacher.

The girls made allegations the man indecently assaulted them immediately after the incident.

In the footage, Bugeja (pictured) was heard counting the time the girls held their stretches, before the girls asked him if he was a teacher

In the footage, Bugeja (pictured) was heard counting the time the girls held their stretches, before the girls asked him if he was a teacher

Bugeja told the court he was a fitness fanatic and physical instructor, and liked training others.

Bugeja faces six counts of indecently dealing with a child under 13.

He denied he was guilty of all six charges.

The trial continues for the rest of this week.

 

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