MICHAEL COONAN'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN HUDDERSFIELD AND LEEDS: SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON BUS AND AT HOME
In a disturbing series of incidents that have shocked the community of Huddersfield and the surrounding areas, Michael Coonan has been found guilty of multiple sexual offenses, including an assault on a woman on a bus in Paddock and a separate attack at his home in Quarmby.These cases highlight a troubling pattern of behavior by Coonan, who has a history of sexual misconduct and has faced legal action on more than one occasion.
On January 14, 2017, a woman waiting at a bus stop in Paddock was subjected to a distressing ordeal involving Coonan.
The court heard that Coonan, who was already on bail for an earlier offense, approached her and engaged her in conversation.
During their interaction, he asked for her name and, at one point, inappropriately stroked her arm.
As the bus arrived, Coonan boarded and sat beside her, where the situation escalated further.
Without warning, he placed his hand on her left thigh and began rubbing it up and down, leaving her visibly shocked.
She immediately pushed his arm away in an attempt to distance herself from his unwelcome advances.
According to prosecutor Michael Morley, Coonan then made an inappropriate remark, saying, “Why do you look so worried, we’re having a bit of love aren’t we,” before leaning in to give her a sloppy kiss on her left cheek.
He also attempted to hold her hand, which she firmly told him not to do, and she turned her face towards the window in an effort to avoid further contact.
Despite her efforts to escape, Coonan tried to turn her back towards him.
When the bus reached its terminus, he stood up, and the woman noticed he had an erection.
As she prepared to leave, Coonan grabbed her shoulders and kissed her again on the side of her face.
She managed to pull away and quickly exited the bus, feeling violated and distressed by the incident.
Following the assault, she contacted the police, providing a detailed description of her attacker.
Law enforcement officials recognized Coonan’s distinctive appearance from previous cases.
The court proceedings revealed that Coonan’s criminal history includes an earlier offense in August of the previous year, where he had engaged in inappropriate conduct with a 16-year-old girl at Leeds Bus Station.
During that incident, he sat next to her, put his arm around her near her breast, and kissed her on the cheek.
The girl told him to “get off” and identified him to a police officer, leading to his arrest.
It was also disclosed that Coonan, aged 54 and residing on Quarmby Road in Quarmby, had a troubled past, including head injuries sustained in an accident in 1988.
His legal case culminated in a conviction for two sexual assaults, for which he received a 12-month community order, including 30 days of rehabilitation activities.
Additionally, he was subjected to a three-month curfew from 7 pm to 7 am, which was intended to prevent him from riding buses temporarily.
Judge Peter Collier QC, the Recorder of Leeds, emphasized the seriousness of his offenses but also acknowledged his lack of prior convictions and the efforts made through a detailed pre-sentence report to monitor his behavior.
In a separate case dating back to May 2011, Coonan was involved in another sexual assault in Huddersfield.
He was accused of persuading a woman, who has not been named for legal reasons, to visit his home in Quarmby Road for tea.
The victim, who suffers from learning difficulties, was attacked by Coonan during this visit.
Bradford Crown Court heard that Coonan’s barrister, Yunus Valli, described the case as tragic for all parties involved.
Coonan, who had been remanded in custody for over 200 days, initially faced charges of rape.
However, he pleaded guilty to sexual assault, a plea accepted by the prosecution, and the rape charge was ordered to lie on the file.
The court was informed that Coonan had no previous convictions, and a comprehensive pre-sentence report suggested that he could be monitored effectively within the community.
The judge, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, took into account that Coonan had already served the equivalent of at least 18 months in custody while on remand.
As part of his sentence, Coonan was ordered to adhere to a night-time curfew for six months and was subject to a sexual offences prevention order, which restricts his unsupervised contact with vulnerable individuals.
These measures aim to prevent further offenses and protect potential victims from harm.
These cases underscore the ongoing concerns surrounding Coonan’s behavior and the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community awareness in preventing such incidents from recurring.
