Man begged woman in Cumbrian toy shop to flash her breasts
Last updated at 11:44, Thursday, 11 March 2010
A man has appeared in court for sexually assaulting a woman in a Penrith toy shop.
The woman thought Peter Speer was just being cheeky when he complimented her on her “nice legs” and “lovely blue eyes”.
But things took a more sinister turn in the Devonshire Arcade Toy Chest when he unzipped the fleece she was wearing over her blouse and stared at her chest.
The court heard Speer, 55, then said he wouldn’t leave the shop until he had seen her breasts, Carlisle Crown Court heard.
He demanded the woman’s phone number and she got rid of him by giving him a false one.
But even then he was not finished.
For as he was leaving the shop he turned round, went down on his knees and begged: “Please, just a glimpse”.
The woman told another customer – who happened to be an off-duty policewoman – what had happened.
But it was only three months later that he was arrested, at the gates of Dumfries prison as he finished serving a sentence there.
Unemployed Speer, who has no fixed address but was on his way to live in Gretna when the incident happened in January last year, pleaded guilty to sexual assault.
After hearing that he had served at least 44 days in prison on remand waiting to be sentenced, Judge Barbara Forrester gave him a 12-month conditional discharge.
She described the incident as “relatively minor of its type”.
First published at 11:27, Thursday, 11 March 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
It seems a very lenient sentence for such a serious crime and crimes like this must be taken very seriously by the courts - it isn't a trivial matter.
I do wonder though if Linda (13 March 2010 at 13:09) would be so vocal about the names of men appearing in the papers before their trial? Many have had their names dragged through mud only to be found not guilty following malicious allegations from women (not in this case I must add) and they, and their families, have suffered yet any woman who makes malicious allegations keeps her identity hidden.Innocent until proven guilty? Doesn't seem very fair to me as, after all, mud sticks as they say.Whats your view of that Linda? Would you say that men should be named and shamed before facing trial, what would you say to the men found innocent who have been shamed and possibly lost their jobs, and would you say that women who make false allegations should lose their anonymity?I think anyone found guilty of either crime, i.e. sexual assault or malicious allegations, should face very severe penalties. I think this poor woman has been let down.View all 15 comments on this article
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Firstly what is a verbal sexual assault for gods sake? and also if it was a male judge you would all be on your pedistal saying "more women should be judges" well this was a female judge and how would knowing where he lives ie monitoring stop him shopping?
Posted by mike on 15 March 2010 at 19:17