ULDIS OLEHNOVICS

***Image required*** A Latvian man from Mansfield, who was intoxicated, touched a male shopkeeper inappropriately while insisting on purchasing more alcohol.

He claimed to police that it was merely a "friendly hug," a court was informed.

Uldis Olehnovics entered the shop forcefully as employees were closing the doors and embraced the shopkeeper without warning, according to prosecutor Catherine Wilson.

During the incident on the night of April 9 last year, he also squeezed the man’s backside and ran his hands over his body.

Ms Wilson noted that despite Olehnovics’s grip not being overly tight, the shopkeeper felt uncomfortable and described the encounter as sexualized.

The victim froze out of shock and fear, feeling a sense of violation.

Olehnovics, 44, was detained after police found his wallet containing bank cards issued in another person’s name, which he explained he had found in Coventry.

When shown CCTV footage of the incident, he admitted, "Yes, yes, I know I am gay.

What are you going to do about it?

Take me to court?" He further remarked that if the shopkeeper was injured, he was a fragile individual.

Representing himself in court, Olehnovics said, "It is completely my fault.

I shouldn’t have done what I have done.

I am so sorry.

It happened a long time ago.

I apologise." Despite initially denying any sexual nature to the assault, he pleaded guilty to assault and theft by finding.

However, it was not until a trial on February 21 that he was convicted of sexual assault.

The court adjourned the case to Thursday for probation reports.

Olehnovics received a 12-month community order, which includes 150 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation.

He was also ordered to pay costs totaling £620, a surcharge of £114, and £100 in compensation to the victim.

Olehnovics has prior convictions for aggressive and disorderly conduct.