TOM HAGYARD SENTENCED IN LONDON FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON SLEEPING WOMEN
A trainee solicitor, Tom Hagyard, was convicted of sexual offenses after assaulting two women while they were asleep at a party in west London.The incident occurred at a flat on Fulham Road, where Hagyard, from Fylde Road, Southport, was attending a gathering on October 15, 2017, after celebrating his first paycheck with his family.
Earlier that evening, Hagyard had enjoyed a three-course meal with his parents and two sisters at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
During the party, Hagyard molested a drunken woman while she was sleeping in the host's bed.
He then later groped another woman who was sleeping on the living room couch.
The 29-year-old argued in court that his actions were consensual, but the jury did not agree.
Hagyard was convicted of two counts of assault by penetration concerning the first woman and two counts of sexual assault relating to the second woman.
The jury could not reach a verdict on one count of raping the first woman.
Recorder Simon Russell Flint QC sentenced Hagyard to eight years in prison.
In his remarks, he stated, "Nobody thought it was going to be anything other than a normal party for young people to get to know each other with drinking and dancing and having fun until your actions brought to an end how that night would be remembered." He continued, "The first victim had a lot to drink and was put into bed.
Out of kindness and regard for her comfort, you were also invited to sleep in the same bed.
Almost immediately, you began to touch her sexually while she was asleep and did not give any indication of consent.
She was unaware of what was happening and could not identify you.
You had no right to do what you did, and she did not consent." The judge added, "You went on to find another victim, entering the living-room where the second woman was asleep." In her victim impact statement, the first woman described the profound effects of the assault, noting that she now suffers from chronic stress, anxiety, insomnia, and panic attacks, saying, "The nightmares I have in relation to the assaults are impossible to shake off.
The defendant's actions have destroyed my trust and personal faith in other people.
I feel ashamed for not fighting back and continue to berate myself." The second woman, who disclosed a history of childhood sexual abuse, shared, "Tom Hagyard, I don't hate you.
You are a stranger to me.
I hope you can explore why you are the way you are and seek resolution so you do not harm anyone else.
I am grieving for the loss of my old self; I miss her deeply.
The last four years have been torture with the anticipation of court." Court records revealed that Hagyard arrived at the party with a bottle of wine.
The first victim recounted waking up to find Hagyard on top of her, saying, "We got very drunk and I don't remember a lot.
I took myself to bed and woke up to find a boy sort of on top of me.
I was going in and out of consciousness and didn't think I could move.
I froze a bit, I didn't fight him off.
I remember trying to push him away and staring at the wall for a while.
I felt very drunk, nine or ten out of ten.
I kept my eyes closed and felt confused.
I was in pain and felt like I could not move or fight him off." Hagyard claimed that the second woman had invited him onto the sofa, where he began massaging her chest.
However, prosecutor Richard Job stated, "She had also had a bit to drink and was sleeping in her clothes.
She was woken at 5:30 a.m.
by someone touching her chest.
She was scared and went quickly to the host's bedroom." Hagyard expressed regret, telling the court, "It has been difficult.
I lost my job at the law firm." His lawyer, Karina Arden, described the case as a tragedy, emphasizing that it has affected not only the victims but also Hagyard's family.
She said, "His professional life that he worked so hard for is over.
He has changed from being a confident young trainee solicitor with ambitions in commercial law.
He has suffered every day for the last four years and regrets the incident that night.
It will remain with him for the rest of his life." Hagyard will be required to register as a sex offender indefinitely and serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
