MAN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WOMAN IN HOT TUB
A man was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman who was relaxing in a hot tub.Timothy Clark, 46, from Beverley, removed his clothing and entered the hot tub alongside a woman he knew.
He then attempted to remove her bikini bottoms and touched her inside her top, an incident described during a court hearing at Hull Crown Court.
Clark denied the charges of sexual assault, but the jury convicted him of the offense after a majority verdict of 11 to one.
Clark claimed he believed the woman had invited him into the hot tub.
Prosecutor Daniel Penman suggested that once in the hot tub, Clark decided to pursue sexual interests with her.
When asked if he intended to have fun with her, Clark responded negatively.
The prosecution argued that he was driven by a desire for sex and that he realised he might be caught when the woman said she would scream.
Clark is said to have called her a rude name for refusing his advances.
The woman then fled, and Clark left in his vehicle, disappearing from the scene, the court was told.
This was contested by Clark, who also sent her numerous messages the following day and made repeated phone calls, attempting to minimize his actions and blame her, according to prosecutors.
Clark claimed innocence, stating he was in the hot tub for no more than 30 minutes and that he had not touched her.
He also denied removing his boxer shorts while her back was turned.
During police questioning, he insisted he would not take advantage of a woman.
The prosecutor questioned his acknowledgment of what he had done, but Clark maintained he had done nothing wrong.
The woman stated that the assault had permanently affected her life, leaving her feeling unclean and depressed.
She also said that Clark’s later messages, which belittled the incident and accused her, worsened her emotional state.
She worried about the impact on her and her family, noting her loss of confidence and her tendency to avoid anything that might remind her of the attack.
Clark had a record with 11 previous convictions, including theft, driving violations, threats, and drug offenses, but no prior sexual offenses.
He previously served a year in jail in 2015 for two assaults resulting in actual bodily harm during an altercation at a pub.
His defense, delivered by Danielle Graham, indicated that the assault was an isolated incident and that Clark had no prior charges related to women.
Judge Rayfield pointed out that although Clark claimed to have announced his intention to join the hot tub, the woman might have invited him to enter; however, that did not justify any sexual contact.
The judge highlighted that Clark’s removal of his boxer shorts was unwarranted since the woman had clearly shown her discomfort and clearly indicated she was not interested.
When she turned away, Clark exploited the moment to assault her, stopping only when threatened with screaming.
The judge emphasised that women in such situations often feel terrified, not knowing whether they will be raped, which underscores the real danger and serious repercussions of such acts.
Clark received a 15-month prison sentence, an indefinite restraining order, and was required to register as a sex offender for ten years.
