A Dublin man who attempted to rape a 13-year-old babysitter because he thought she was aged 16 was jailed for six years by Mr Justice Geoghegan yesterday.
The 28-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the offence which was committed on the night of July 29th, 1996.
The final year of the sentence was suspended on condition he attended Alcoholics Anonymous on his release.
A garda witness told Mr Patrick Gageby SC, prosecuting, that the man was a serious alcoholic and had a conviction in 1987 for exposing himself.
On the day of the incident the defendant said he had consumed eight pints of lager and a bottle of whisky before going to his sister's house where the victim was babysitting. He attempted to have sex with the girl even though she was screaming and crying. Another man who went to the girl's assistance chased him away, the garda said.
Mr Justice Geoghegan noted that despite believing the victim to be older, the defendant had ignored her screams for help. The courts did not accept the consumption of alcohol as an excuse for such attacks.