A Magistrate has sentenced a Pembroke man to 18 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to fondling a woman in a bathroom at a party.

Edward Allen Dill, 27, had admitted entering the women's lavatory at the Ocean View Clubhouse on April 5 Magistrate Edward King heard Dill placed his hands on either side of a 34-year-old woman and confined her before touching her breasts.

Crown counsel Lesley Basden said the woman was waiting in the bathroom and found the stall occupied.

Dill entered and asked if he could go into the stall before her, but she refused.

He confined the woman and touched her chest before kissing her neck and fondling her leg and buttocks.

Ms Basden said a female friend of the woman entered the bathroom and the woman was able to escape and lock herself in the stall.

The woman heard Dill arguing with the woman and another friend later identified him.

On Friday, Dill's lawyer Juan Wolffe, told Mr. King his client was remorseful and the incident was "out of character''.

He also argued for a term of probation or a suspended sentence.

Dill told Mr. King: "I feel totally disappointed for such charges. I know they are not me and not of my character. I have way more class and respect for people.'' He added: "I was under the influence of alcohol at the time. It will never happen again.'' But Mr. King said he felt he could not impose a lesser sentence than one of imprisonment.

He said: "Drinking was not an excuse. And what would have happened if the other woman had not come in the room?'' Mr. King continued: "Eighteen months. And I recommend to the prison authorities that you be afforded all such treatment of alcohol abuse and all such sexual deviance that is in you.''