Ex-Bibby Stockholm resident sentenced to community order for sexual assault of teen

A former resident of the Bibby Stockholm barge has received an 18-month community order for sexually assaulting a teenage girl on a beach. Moffat Konofilia, 48, denied the offence but was convicted of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl on Weymouth Beach in Dorset on December 15, 2023.

Before coming to the UK, he reportedly played football for the Solomon Islands national team. Konofilia, who is now in an asylum residence in Coventry, was housed on the Bibby Stockholm before it was shut down, and he told the court he had been in the UK for three years. During sentencing at Poole Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, magistrates heard Konofilia had kissed the teenage girl twice on the lips after they sat down to have a conversation. Prosecuting, Robert Salame said: "On December 15 2023, (the girl) left her property at about 6pm for a walk.

"She was approached by the defendant who asked her what there was to do in Weymouth."

They struck up a conversation and began walking together, the court heard, and Konofilia stopped to buy a vape for the girl and also two cans of Stella.

The girl told police he had seemed friendly but appeared to have been drinking.

They went to sit by the beach, and at some point the girl began recording on her phone and the conversation turned sexual, the court heard.

Mr Salame continued: "At the beach the defendant was drinking from the cans of Stella and offered one to (the girl). She did not drink from it.

"The defendant leaned forward and kissed (her) twice on the lips, she was saying no, no, no as he did this."

She then told him she had to go home, and reported the incident to police the next day.

Konofilia told magistrates he had never committed a crime before and respected the law, he also disputed that he had approached the girl, but the magistrates reminded him that he had already been convicted of the crime.

The former footballer added he appreciated Great Britain for looking after him, and was thankful to have somewhere to live, and food to eat.

The conditions of his 18-month order will require a 26-day programme, alcohol absence monitoring for 100 days, and 60 hours of unpaid work.

The Bibby Stockholm barge, which had been moored in Portland, Dorset, was decommissioned after Labour came to power last year.

Labour MP for South Dorset, Lloyd Hatton, welcomed the closure of the barge in his constituency after the announcement.

He said: "We all know this barge was a gimmick. First it arrived late, second it cost the taxpayer a fortune. Third it was laden with fire and disease risks, and fourth it likely contributed to the death of a 27-year-old asylum seeker on board."