GUILTY: Graduate Sound Engineer Convicted Of Multiple Sex Assaults On Guest

The music producer host of a wine and movie night has been convicted today of sexually assaulting his investment specialist guest, who woke to find his hand inside her knickers.

The woman says her breasts were also groped by fellow graduate Jacques Foce, 33, who later texted: “Thanks for a great night.”

The Cass Business School graduate, who is employed by a global investment company told the Inner London Crown Court jury: “He had unbuttoned and unzipped my jeans.

“He was moving his fingers under my trousers, under my underwear. I was frozen, I was in shock.” 

South African native Foce, of Heyford Avenue, Nine Elms, Lambeth, a former sound engineer for Cape Town’s Smile FM, was unanimously found guilty of five counts of sexual assault in the early hours of July 4, 2020.

The trial heard the woman had been invited over to the converted Victorian flat Foce shared with his absent long-term girlfriend for the evening, confirming via text: “I’m easy as long as it involves wine.”

Describing Foce, a graduate of Cape Audio College, to the jury she said: “He would always hug people when they walked into the room and he calls everyone ‘hon’ or ‘darling.’”

She fell asleep on the sofa next to host Foce, but was woken just after midnight by his actions, she told the trial.

“It was the sensation of his hand,” she explained, describing Foce touching her between her legs. ‘It took me a while to put two and two together of what was happening to me and I was scared.

“I did not think he was capable of doing this to me. I did not know what else he was capable of doing so just thought it was safe just to take it.

“He continued to rub me, stopping and starting,” confirming she did not shout at Foce or tell him to stop.

“He was touching me and then left the room in a hurry and when he came back he touched my face, he kissed my forehead, stroked my face and touched my hair.

“When he finished he turned on the light and said: ‘Wakey, wakey’ and shook me awake.”

She told the jury Foce encouraged her to sleepover in the spare bedroom. “He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. It terrified me.”

She insisted on leaving and during her Uber ride home also received a heart emoji text from Foce and she replied: “Thank-you for a lovely night.”

Prosecutor Mark Trafford KC told the jury: “The defendant is known to be charming and a hugger, to be tactile,” and had once suggested the reluctant complainant join him in a threesome with his long-term girlfriend.

He had complained to the woman he and his girlfriend were not “compatible in the bedroom” and needed to do something “out there,” the court heard.

“On the evening they had both been drinking, they had a glass or two of wine and she fell asleep,” explained the prosecutor. “When she woke up on the sofa she found her jeans unzipped and her trousers slightly down.”

Foce’s hand was between her legs, the KC told the jurors. “She was totally shocked and frozen by this and she feigned sleep, keeping her eyes closed in the hope it would stop.

“He then stopped and zipped up her jeans and then within seconds unzipped them again and carried on.

“Then he touched her breasts and her face and kissed her. She was completely frozen by this.”

Later Foce sent her text, which read: “I’m such an a***hole. I woke up hoping it was all a bad dream. I’m sorry.”

“I am so sorry I’ve done this, but really want to fix this.”

Mr Trafford added: “These are not the texts of someone that blanked out. Alcohol is not an excuse for assault of any kind and certainly not for a sexual assault.

“The defendant said that never happened, but he took advantage of her.”

Recorder Darren Reed told the jury: “I will be assisted by a report from the Probation Service so I am not going to sentence the defendant now.”

Foce will also have to sign the sex offenders register. “Counts two and three trigger the notification requirement as of today,” announced the Recorder, indicating the length of time on the register will depend on the sentence.

“I certify you have been convicted of sexual offences,” he told Foce. “As of today you must keep the police aware of your address and the name you are using.”

Bailing Foce until June 9 on the condition he surrenders his passport within the next twenty-four hours Recorder Reed told him: “It is important you are back at this court.

“I am giving you the opportunity to meet the Probation Officer and it is up to you to make use of that opportunity.”