A drunken man assaulted his victim and forcibly kissed her while she lay on the ground, a court has heard.
Alex Ward, of Pembroke Court, Tranmere, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to one count of assault and one count of sexual assault on a female. Edward Rattigan, prosecuting, detailed that in October last year, in the early hours of the morning, police were contacted by a member of the public informing them that a woman was being assaulted and the perpetrator had taken her phone and watch.
Part of the incident was filmed using a mobile phone and played in court, and showed Ward and the victim outside The Beach nightclub, Birkenhead, in a drunken state. The 24-year-old could be seen taking the woman to the floor a number of times, and kneeling over her while talking to her.
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Ward stood over the victim as she lay on the floor, forcibly kissing her as she cried that he had hurt her back when she hit the floor. The victim can be heard saying “get the f**k off me”.
The victim suffered grazes and bruising to her nose and a cut to her forehead, plus bruising in-between her thighs. In a victim personal statement given by the victim and read by the prosecution, it was detailed that she feels nervous when people approach her home, and does not like going out alone anymore.
She said she still has to take painkillers for her back three months after the incident. Ward has two previous convictions for three offences, including assault and a public order offence which he was given a community order on October 4 last year.
John Gallagher, defending, said: “He was in a nightclub, he was drunk and minding his own business when he has been approached by the complainant who was also drunk, and verbally berated. “He did the right thing and he left, and she followed him and then this whole thing blew up.”
Mr Gallagher said Ward has a good work record in the past and has complied with his previous community order very well. The probation service confirmed that he has completed all 100 hours of his previous order, and begun working on his rehabilitation day requirements.
A bench of magistrates sentenced Ward to 12 months immediate imprisonment, and a restraining order for three years barring him from contacting the victim was implemented. He will also be subject to sex offender notification requirements for ten years, and must pay £500 in compensation to the victim.
A victim surcharge applies.
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