WORCESTER MAN AVOIDS JAIL FOR CITY CENTRE SEX ATTACK
A WORCESTER man who sexually assaulted a woman in the city centre as she was making her way to work has dodged a jail sentence.Stuart Craven, of Sidbury, Worcester, appeared at the city's magistrates' court on Tuesday (August 19) for sentencing after he admitted touching the woman on May 19.
Craven, wearing a white shirt, spoke only to confirm his details as they were read to the court.
Prosecutor Camila Toscano told Worcester magistrates that the woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was making her way to work in May.
As she waited to cross City Walls Road, she looked to the left to check for any oncoming traffic and saw a man.
When walking she felt someone touch her bum cheek.
It was an open-handed touch that lasted for a few seconds.
She swerved away from Mr Craven and looked back at him.
She asked if he had just touched her, and he then asked her if she knew the way to McDonald's.
She shouted back that he had just touched her; he said nothing.
The woman prepared a victim impact statement, which she read out: "This is the first time something like this has happened to me.
I can still feel the hand on my bum and I feel disgusted.
This is not something that should have happened on my way to work and it was on my mind all day.
I will be more aware as I walk around now." Craven admitted to touching the woman when interviewed by police, stating he saw her, liked her look, approached her, and touched her bum.
He said he got sexual gratification from it and acknowledged it was wrong.
The court heard Craven had no prior convictions and had not been in trouble before.
Defender Fergus Maxwell noted Craven's mental health issues and remorse.
The court, led by Chair Megan Harrison, sentenced him to a 12-month community order and 20 rehabilitation activity days.
Craven was also ordered to pay £300 in compensation to the victim and to register as a sex offender for five years.
