AN ASYLUM seeker on the Bibby Stockholm sexually assaulted a teen girl after saying “I’ve never been this close to a white woman”.
Moffat Konofilia, who travelled 10,000 miles from the Solomon Islands, tried to kiss the terrified 17-year-old as she sat on Weymouth seafront in .
The ex-footballer, 48, told her he was on holiday - but in fact he lived on the controversial migrant .
The girl said Konofilia commented on the colour of her skin and said he had “never been this close to a white woman” which made her feel uncomfortable.
She began secretly recording their conversation and was heard saying ‘no, no’ as Konofilia tried to kiss her on the mouth before apologising.
The victim left to walk home and Konofilia tried to follow her but she managed to lose him down an alleyway.
After the the girl called a friend crying and asked them to meet her. She reported the incident to the next day.
The , who had played for Solomon Islands national team, said he had taken the bus into the Dorset seaside town and bought beers to drink on the beach “as he often did”.
When interviewed by police he said the girl told him she was 18 and that he wanted to help her.
He claimed he had not kissed her but had put an arm around her to comfort her and she had pulled away.
He denied kissing her or following her when she left.
Konofilia was found guilty of one count of sexual assault by magistrates in Poole.
Sentencing was adjourned for reports and he was released on bail.
He now lives at Quadrant Hall in Coventry, a former university halls that was converted to house 100 asylum seekers.
Although he speaks English, he said his first language is Pijin, a common language in the Solomon Islands.
At a previous court hearing he said he had two interviews for his asylum claim which depended on the outcome of this case.
The Solomon Islands are the seventh furthest country from the UK and there are currently no specific visas for Solomon Islanders to enter the UK to .
Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea are the primary destinations for asylum seekers from the Solomon Islands.
