Businessman, 33, who molested a sleeping woman in hotel as his wife slept beside him is jailed for three years after appeal judges overturn suspended sentence

BUSINESSMAN, 33, WHO MOLESTED A SLEEPING WOMAN IN HOTEL AS HIS WIFE SLEPT BESIDE HIM IS JAILED FOR THREE YEARS AFTER APPEAL JUDGES OVERTURN SUSPENDED SENTENCE

Joe Holtham, aged 33 and from near Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, became involved in a distressing incident at a wedding celebration held in Tetbury in 2019.

Following the reception at Hunter's Hall hotel, Holtham and his wife Sarah shared the same hotel room with another couple, who had misplaced their key.

During the night, Holtham was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman sleeping in the same bed.

Court documents indicate that he groped her, unfastening her dress and unhooking her bra with the apparent intention of touching her breasts.

Holtham claimed that he only made inappropriate contact because he believed the woman was his wife, and he stopped once he realized his mistake.

Initially, he was sentenced in June by Gloucestershire Crown Court to a two-year prison term suspended for two years.

This sentence was later overturned by the Court of Appeal, which deemed it too lenient following a challenge from the Solicitor General.

The appellate court sentenced him to three years and six months behind bars for the assault, emphasizing the victim’s vulnerability as she was asleep during the incident.

The identity of the woman involved has not been disclosed publicly.

This case attracted public and legal attention, raising concerns about sentencing adequacy in sexual assault cases and protections for vulnerable victims.