A MAGISTRATE has issued a warrant for the arrest of a man who failed to appear in court to face a hearing into allegations he sexually touched a woman on a train at Cardiff.
Ivan Luxford Nireahi Smiler was a no-show in Toronto Local Court on Friday and was convicted in his absence of two counts of aggravated sexual touching.
Magistrate Les Brennan issued an arrest warrant to bring Smiler to court to be sentenced. Police said a 19-year-old woman was on her way to work and waiting on the platform at Cardiff railway station about 8.40am on April 10 this year when Smiler approached and attempted to engage her in conversation. Smiler tried to kiss the woman, but she pushed him away, police said at the time. The woman then boarded a train but was followed by Smiler, who sat next to her.
The woman told police that during the journey Smiler kissed and touched her without her consent. And as the woman attempted to get off the train, Smiler grabbed her but was interrupted by another passenger.
Smiler was arrested nearby and later charged with two counts of aggravated sexual touching, a relatively new offence which replaced aggravated indecent assault.
He pleaded not guilty and the matter was listed for hearing on Friday.
