Man convicted for grabbing policewoman’s buttocks •A friend dared me —Accused

Man convicted for grabbing policewoman’s buttocks •A friend dared me —Accused



A drunken man who grabbed a woman police officer’s bottom in the street ‘as a joke’ has been convicted of sexual assault.

Twenty-year-old Michael Hayes, of Wallington, Surrey, United Kingdom molested the woman as she was walking along Bridge Street in Westminster, central London, Daily Mail reported.

The officer who turned around and confronted him, asked: ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’

She told him she was an off-duty policewoman and Michael then said: ‘I’m sorry, I’m drunk,’ Westminster Magistrates Court heard.

Michael tried to escape, but the officer chased him down the road and he was arrested by a uniformed officer.

After his arrest, Michael claimed he grabbed the officer’s bottom ‘as a joke’ because one of his friends had dared him to.

He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was released on bail and will be sentenced on August 12.

The prosecutor, Nicholas Earl said that: The complainant in this case was an off-duty police officer.

‘She was walking along Bridge Street and felt her bottom being grabbed.

‘She turned around and confronted Michael, and askedhim “what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“She explained that she was an off-duty officer, produced a warrant card, showed it to him and told him to remain there.

“He replied “I’m sorry, I’m drunk”. She tried to stop him getting away by grabbing his arm but he managed to wriggle out and run away.

“She ran after him and saw a uniformed officer and alerted him.

‘He was detained a short while and later when cautioned said, “I want to apologise, it’s only because I’m drunk.”

In interview he fully admitted assaulting the officer.

“Hayes claimed he was with his friend, they had been drinking alcohol and his friend dared him to grab someone’s bottom and with that in mind he went up to the off-duty officer ‘for a joke’.

“He knew that was wrong and improper but did it anyway”

Euan Macmillan, defending, said Michael is remorseful.

He said: “He clearly picked on the wrong person for all sorts of obvious reasons and his behaviour was poor and he knows that”

Magistrate Gay Cheyne,warned Michael that he could be sent to prison.

“We are going to adjourn this matter for a pre-sentence report,” she said.

“We are leaving all options open so the sentence could be anything up to custody.