LOUIS GRIFFITHS PREDATOR FROM WALTON SENTENCED AFTER SEXUALLY ASSAULTING WOMAN AS SHE SLEPT IN LIVERPOOL

In a disturbing case heard at Liverpool Crown Court, Louis Griffiths, a 21-year-old man from Walton, was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman while she was asleep. The incident occurred after Griffiths and the victim, along with friends, had spent the night in the town centre of Liverpool, following a night out that began in a local bar and continued into a nearby pizza takeaway.

According to the court proceedings, the group left the bar around 3am, having enjoyed drinks and socialising. They then proceeded to a pizza takeaway where they encountered Griffiths. After a brief conversation, the group decided to return to a pub located on Wilderspool Causeway, where Griffiths resided. Once there, they continued their evening, playing pool and drinking more alcohol.

During the course of the night, Griffiths attempted to flirt with the women, making several advances including trying to kiss them and inviting the victim upstairs alone with him. However, all the women clearly expressed disinterest in any romantic or sexual involvement, making it known that they were not receptive to his advances. Despite this, Griffiths persisted in his behaviour.

At approximately 6am, the group decided to sleep upstairs in a spare room. The victim, fully clothed and partially covered by a blanket, fell asleep. She was later awakened by a wet sensation in her genital area. When she looked down, she saw Griffiths with his head between her legs and her underwear removed. She immediately shouted, “What are you doing?” which alerted the others in the room. Griffiths then became aggressive, smashing a mirror and causing a cut to his own hand in the process.

Before leaving the scene, Griffiths reportedly began crying and apologising to the victim. She subsequently reported the assault to the police. He was arrested on June 14 and taken in for questioning. During the interview, Griffiths initially attempted to deny his actions, fabricating a false account. However, he later accepted the truth of what had occurred.

The victim provided a heartfelt impact statement, revealing the profound emotional toll the incident had taken on her. She stated that she felt unable to leave her home or speak to anyone after the assault, describing herself as feeling “uncomfortable in her own skin” and ashamed. She expressed that thinking about the incident made her feel “upset, isolated and violated,” and she added, “I refused to go out and put myself in a situation where I got tipsy where a predator could attack me.”

During sentencing, Recorder Richard Pratt addressed Griffiths directly, emphasizing the vulnerability of the victim while she was asleep. The judge acknowledged Griffiths’ age of 19 at the time and his immaturity but stressed that he was old enough to understand the gravity of his actions. The judge stated, “It would send out completely the wrong message to the victim and the public if I imposed anything other than an immediate custodial sentence.”

Consequently, Griffiths was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender and adhere to notification requirements for the next ten years, reflecting the serious nature of his crime and the need for ongoing monitoring.