UPDATE: Former Alpine Hotel manager James Stewart, aged 35, faces serious legal repercussions after pleading guilty to new charges of sexual assault and supplying alcohol to a minor. The County Court has confirmed he was charged with sexual penetration of a child, common assault, and supplying liquor to a minor following a disturbing incident involving a 17-year-old girl.
The plea hearing, held on December 16, 2023, revealed harrowing details about the assault, which took place in the early hours of November 26. Court documents indicate that Stewart invited the teenager to his hotel room, where he served her alcoholic beverages and coerced her to sit next to him. Despite the victim expressing her discomfort by saying, “I don’t want to do this,” Stewart responded, “You’ll let me do this,” according to court statements.
The victim’s impact statement illustrated the profound emotional and psychological scars left by the assault. “This didn’t just affect my life, it changed everything about me,” she shared, highlighting her ongoing struggles with nightmares and mental health deterioration. “I could spend hours speaking about the emotional, physical, and financial pain this has caused.”
Owner of the Alpine Hotel, Rachael Northwood, described Stewart as “my number one guy in the business” before his dismissal the day after the incident. This recent court proceeding underscores the grave nature of Stewart’s actions, with Judge Paul Higham noting that new information regarding the victim’s traumatic past might heighten Stewart’s moral culpability.
In an unexpected twist, forensic psychologist Pamela Matthews assessed Stewart and suggested he may meet the criteria for borderline personality disorder. However, her findings showed that his personality traits fell below the clinically significant threshold for such a diagnosis.
Stewart is scheduled to return to court for a directions hearing on February 19, 2024, where further developments in this case are anticipated. The community is watching closely as this troubling case unfolds, raising awareness about the impact of sexual assault and the responsibility of individuals in positions of trust.
This case serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing issues surrounding sexual violence and the protection of minors. Authorities urge anyone affected by similar incidents to come forward and seek support. The urgency of this case highlights the need for continued vigilance and action against such crimes.
