CHESTER MAN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WOMAN ON CITY BUS, COURT TOLD
A CHESTER man who sexually assaulted a woman on a bus in Chester was spared an immediate custodial sentence by magistrates.John Armitage, 57 and of Canberra Way, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, for sexual assault at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, August 15.
He was convicted at trial on July 25.
Charlotte Brookes, prosecuting, told the court that on November 1, 2024, police were called to reports of a sexual assault on public transport in Blacon.
When they arrived, they found an unconscious male – the defendant – but they were told by the victim that he had been acting inappropriately to her and a friend on the bus.
When she tried to move away from him, according to Miss Brookes, Armitage grabbed her backside and this led to an argument between the defendant and the victim about his behaviour.
Miss Brookes added that he began to make threats to the victim but denied intentionally touching her when he was in police interview.
The prosecutor also read out a statement from the victim.
It said: “Since this happened, I have anxiety and feel vulnerable using public transport and have been proscribed for medication for anxiety.
This has impacted on my mental health on daily basis and scared to be close to the defendant.” Miss Brookes added that the victim is also seeking counselling and ‘talking therapy’ and is on leave from her university course and her work.
She also told the magistrates that the offence was aggravated by the defendant being drunk.
Catherine Higham, defending, told the court that the suspended sentence her client was not in a position to be triggered, and the court agreed.
She added that he has spent time on remand waiting for his pre-sentence report and that any alcohol treatment requirement is ‘setting him up to fail’.
She said: “These three weeks on remand has meant he has been three weeks sober and it helped him reflect that he shouldn’t behave like this.
He denied the offence but he knows he shouldn’t be behaving like this and knows that his victim is in court today and he apologises to her.
The last three weeks has given him time to reflect that he doesn’t want to be in this position again.” Magistrates also ordered Armitage to pay £250 in compensation to his victim but did not order costs or a surcharge.
He was told to register as a sex offender within three days and to carry out 20 rehabilitation days plus a 12-month restraining order not to contact his victim.
