Man sentenced for sex assault on female taxi driverA female taxi driver has been left "nervous" and unable to work late at night after she was sexually assaulted by a passenger, a court heard.
Christopher Batty, 43, tried to kiss his victim on the cheeks and lips before placing his hand between her thighs during a journey in Cumbria during August last year.
An intoxicated Batty was "comatose" when police arrived to investigate the incident after the distressed driver pulled over as she tried to bring the attack to a halt.
He could remember nothing about the incident and denied the sexual assault after he was charged by police.
Batty was due to go on trial at Carlisle Crown Court today but changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced by Judge Barbara Forrester.
Batty, who works out of the country almost half the year, in the maritime security industry, was given a £2,000 fine for the offence. The court heard a community sentence would be "impossible" due to his work commitments.
Batty, of Petre Lane, Guernsey, was ordered to pay the victim compensation totalling £952. He must also pay £2,348 costs.
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