FATHER-OF-TWO IN COURT OVER SEXUAL ASSAULT IN HUDDERSFIELD
A father-of-two has been ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register after sexually assaulting a woman inside a Huddersfield nightclub.The 26-year-old victim said she felt violated and afraid to be near men following the attack at Maverick’s 80’s Lounge.Joiner Elliott Bray pleaded guilty to sexual assault and must register as a sex offender for the next five years.Kirklees magistrates heard that the victim had been out in Huddersfield town centre celebrating a friend’s birthday on October 4.
They ended up inside the King Street club at 2am, prosecutor Alex Bozman explained.He told the court that the female clubber arranged to meet her boyfriend and headed downstairs to the lobby area.Mr Bozman said: “She noticed two men talking by the door.
One man put his hand down and touched her vagina over her dress.“She knocked his hand away, hit him in the face and said: ‘Who do you think you are touching me?’”A bouncer intervened and police were called.The victim identified Bray, of The Coppice in Lindley, as responsible.Mr Bozman said: “She said she felt very angry and shocked, she’d had no conversation with the male and was just walking out when the incident happened.“She felt disgusted and violated and as a result of this incident feels nervous when she goes out at night.“She said: ‘I’m nervous when males get near to me - I’m angry at the male who thought he could touch me in that way.’”Bray, 21, initially denied the charge and was set to stand trial.
He changed his plea to guilty on the day of his trial, which the complainant had attended to give evidence.He said he had shared a bottle of vodka with two friends before going out and then drunk spirits throughout the night.
He claimed he didn’t remember the incident but had to accept that it happened.He shared that it was a fleeting touching but admitted he was in drink.He said he didn’t remember the incident, but accepted it occurred.He has been sentenced to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years, complete 180 hours of unpaid work, pay £100 compensation to his victim, pay £200 prosecution costs, and a £60 victim surcharge.
Bray must register his personal details at the police station within three days as part of the register’s requirements.
