August 2019

Derby pervert jailed for groping mum as she walked with young child

A sex pest who groped a young mother as she walked with her child has been jailed.

Chris Williams sexually assaulted the 29-year-old as she walked through Stenson Fields.

He passed her back and forth numerous times, but on the final time he grabbed her behind and fled.

Williams, 23, appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court to answer for the crime and pleaded guilty to it on July 30.

Now, District Judge Jonathan Taaffe has handed Williams at 16-week prison sentence.

He said: “Mr Williams, I give you credit for your guilty plea and the fact that you have not been in trouble before.

“But it is a serious offence. It is a case of sexual assault.

“In my view it is quite clear to me that you have targeted this lady.

“She has suffered psychological damage in relation to the matter.”

Williams defended himself in court, and explained his actions to Judge Taaffe.

He said: “I went to have a walk before I went to work. When I was walking I got lost because I don’t know the whole area.

“And in that moment I just panicked and got agitated.”

The judge responded, saying: “That panic appears to be grabbing hold of this lady’s buttock. If you were lost and panicking, why didn’t you say to this lady ‘can you help me’?”

Williams said: “I did say ‘excuse me’, but I ran away because I was panicking and stressed. That’s why.”

The court also heard that Williams had been suspended from his job after news broke of his conviction.

As well as the prison time, he will have to sign the sexual offenders register for seven years and will pay a £122 victim surcharge.

The incident was said to have happened on July 11.

During William’s first appearance, Peter Bettany, prosecuting, said: “A 29-year-old woman was walking with her small child and the defendant walked past her again and again and again.

“Eventually he passed her from behind, grasped her bottom and ran off.

“Because he was wearing distinctive clothing, a fluorescent jacket, he was quickly found.

“The defendant admitted the offence in interview. He said he was bored before going to work and he decided to have a walk.

“He said he did not know what had come over him. He was ashamed for what he had done and he has never done anything like it before.”

In a victim impact statement, the young mum said: “I would like to say that I am quite a strong person but this has knocked me.

“I feel like I won’t be able to take my child to school on my own after this.”

Williams previously lived in Stenson Fields, but the court heard that he now lives at an address in Oxfordshire.