SUBRAMANIAM NAGULESWARAN SENTENCED IN STOKE-ON-TRENT AFTER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN BURSLEM

In February 2019, Subramaniam Naguleswaran, a 45-year-old shop worker from Dartmouth Street, Burslem, was convicted of a sexual assault involving a young girl. The incident occurred at Dartmouth Food and Wine in Burslem when the victim, a schoolgirl, entered the store around 7:30 a.m. Naguleswaran, an employee there, greeted her with a hug and touched her hand and face. He then deliberately stroked her chest, which led to her feeling shaken.

The victim subsequently informed her mother about the incident, prompting a police investigation after CCTV footage confirmed the events. Prosecutor Timothy Ashmole described the sequence: “On entry she was greeted by the defendant who hugged her. They then separated and the girl selected some crisps. They began speaking to each other. The defendant approached her again, took her right hand, and continued to speak. He then touched her face gently before removing his fingers from her chin. After that, he deliberately stroked her breasts as she walked away.”

Ashmole added, “The hugging, hand holding, and face touching were inappropriate, and the deliberate stroking of her breasts was sexual activity.”

Naguleswaran pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child. At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, he was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 80 hours of unpaid work. He was also issued a five-year restraining order forbidding any contact with his victim and was registered as a sex offender for the same period. Additionally, Naguleswaran was ordered to pay £1,800 in costs.