A MAN who molested a teenage girl in a lift 11/2 years ago was jailed for nine months and ordered to be given three strokes of the cane on Monday.

Colin Tan Huiwen, 23, pleaded guilty to grabbing the right breast of the 17-year-old in a lift at a block of flats at Ang Mo Kio on Sept 2, 2007.

A district court heard that the girl was on her way home after alighting from a taxi when she noticed Tan following her.

But she did not pay attention to him.

When the man got into the lift, he grabbed her right breast. She bit him and a struggle ensued, during which she kicked him in the groin area. He then released his hand.

Pleading for leniency, Tan said in mitigation that he was drunk at the time.

Tan could have been jailed for up to two years or fined or caned or received any two such punishments.