Wakefield pensioner sentenced for sexual assault at phone shop

WAKEFIELD PENSIONER SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AT PHONE SHOP

A pensioner named John Simpson squeezed a shop worker's bottom and cheekily called her "Hey, sexy" at a mobile phone shop in Wakefield.

The incident occurred at the Ridings Shopping Centre in Wakefield on August 11, 2017.

The victim, who was at a table arranging phones, felt a hand slap and grope her bottom.

She heard Simpson say "Hey, sexy" as he walked away from her.

The woman, who had prior dealings with Simpson, was very upset and later cried in the shop, feeling distressed and distrusting men thereafter.

Despite pleading not guilty to sexual assault, Simpson was found guilty after a trial at Huddersfield court.

The magistrates sentenced him to a community order with 15 days of rehabilitation activities to address his offending behavior.

He was also ordered to pay £310 in court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Because of the nature of the offense, Simpson is required to sign the sex offenders' register for five years.

Simpson, aged 67, from Blakeley Grove, Wakefield, showed remorse for his actions, stating he struggled to accept what he did was wrong but expressed genuine regret for causing the reaction he did in his victim.

The victim was left with a distrust of men, flinching when a male customer touched her arm, and felt uneasy around men afterwards.

Simpson was found guilty at Huddersfield court, having initially pleaded not guilty, and his sentence reflects the seriousness of his misconduct.