A man who touched a nine-year-girl’s bottom whilst she was on a shopping trip with her parents, her sister, and another child has been sentenced.Bradford Crown Court heard how George Szulhan’s sexual assault, which was witnessed by the victim’s sister, was passed on to the girl’s parents causing her father to report the matter to the police.In addition, the court heard that previous concerning allegations of very similar offending, involving touching young girls’ bottoms over their clothing, had been made about Szulhan in the past.Prosecutor Adam Walker said Szulhan, now 38, was arrested on April 24, 2022, 10 days after the incident on Good Friday, but stayed silent during an interview with police.He was subsequently picked out by the victim and her sister as part of an identification parade.When police seized Szulhan’s mobile phone analysis revealed a common theme to his internet searches with the terms “schoolgirl” and “bus” repeatedly used. The term “groped” was also searched for several times.Mr Walker said: “Most notably perhaps on February 2, 2022, the phone accessed a site called ‘Men who try touching women in public. What will happen?’[Also], inaccessible prohibited images of children were found on the phone.Szulhan, of Temple Street, Keighley, who had no previous convictions, later pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a child under 13.Mitigating, Erin Kitson-Parker said Szulhan had never been in trouble before but accepted he had a problem and understood the impact on the children involved in his offending.She said he was “upset” over what he had done.Sentencing Szulhan to nine months imprisonment suspended for 18 months Her Honour Judge Kirstie Watson said it was clear that his actions had had an impact on the victim.She took note of the significant trauma and neglect that he had suffered in his life as well as his heavy reliance on alcohol and despite his reticence in fully accepting what he had done said she was satisfied that he was “just capable of rehabilitation”.She ordered Szulhan to undertake 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.In addition, he must register as a sex offender and is subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.She warned him: “If you breach this order, I will send you to prison for nine months immediately.”