An Anfield pensioner who groped himself while staring at a 15-year-old train passenger has been handed a three year community order.
Norman Wainwright, 72, left the girl feeling “sick to her stomach” during the vile incident on a Merseyrail service from Moorfields to Southport.
Wainwright, of Albion Street, Anfield, was given a four week curfew of 7pm to 7am at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court today after earlier pleading guilty to outraging public decency.
Amanda Conlon, prosecuting, told the court an adult woman had spotted Wainwright groping himself on the train on February 13.
She said: “The witness saw Mr Wainwright move seats so he was facing a 15-year-old girl, and she says he started to speak to her. He then appeared to place his right hand down the waistband of his trousers.”
The court heard the woman asked the girl to come and sit with her, and officers from British Transport Police were informed.
When interviewed, Wainwright claimed he had a skin condition and was scratching himself.
However he refused to allow the police access to his medical records and later admitted the offence.
A statement from the 15-year-old girl said: “He was looking at me with a sleazy expression on his face; I was quite certain this was what he was doing…
“It made me feel very uncomfortable and sick to my stomach. It did not make me unwilling to travel on public transport, as it gave me confidence that the British Transport Police and rail staff took it very seriously.”
Vicky Balenski, representing Wainwright, said her client had initially been scratching himself but accepted he then groped himself.
She accepted the presence of the 15-year-old girl aggravated the offence.
Wainwright was ordered to complete a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and to take part in the Northumbria Sex Offender’s Group Programme as part of the community order.
Magistrates also ordered him to pay £100 compensation to each witness, £85 prosecution costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/