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Laughing sex attacker groped woman at event

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date13 April 2024
Publication titleEvening Chronicle
Benjamin Hawkins grabbed the woman's breast as he walked past her at a "Noughty 90s" event in Leazes Park, Newcastle

A court heard he appeared to find the sexual assault funny as he laughed as he walked off.

The victim and her friends kept him in sight and security and police were alerted, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Hawkins, who has previous for serious violence, kicked out at a police officer when confronted.

Jailing him for 14 months and ordering him to sign the sex offenders register for seven years, Judge Penny Moreland said: "You attended a music festival in Newcastle, where you grabbed a woman's breast as you walked past her.

"The evidence of those who saw you do it suggests you thought it was funny because you were laughing as you walked away."

Prosecutor Neil Jones told the court: "The defendant walked past her at about 9.25pm, towards the end of the festival, and grabbed her left breast, laughing as he did so and he walked off." Hawkins, 27, of Acton Place, Heaton, Newcastle, denied sexual assault but was convicted after a trial. He admitted assault on an emergency worker.

In an impact statement, the victim said she now...

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