Ethan James Hayes, 26, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to indecent assault and theft.
On April 27, the defendant saw the stranger standing at the intersection of Anderson Bay Rd and Caversham Bypass and made a finger gun gesture towards her.
The woman felt uncomfortable and turned around.
Hayes then smacked the woman’s bottom and ran off.
He told police he was frustrated because his phone was broken and ‘‘thought it was better to smack her arse than anywhere else on her body’’.
Earlier, on March 12, Hayes was in Christchurch near the Bridge of Remembrance.
He approached a blind busker and kicked his backpack, picked it up and ran off with it.
The defendant was chased down by a member of the public, who confronted him and got the bag back.
Hayes was remanded on bail until sentencing in September.
