Of course, odd that this is the obverse of the normal scenario.
And odd in other regards as well, but I'm saying
Litherland woman who sexually assaulted taxi driver sobs as she's spared jailhttps://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... s-34764578Emma Richards sexually assaulted the man as he drove her home from the Cavern QuarterA woman who drunkenly assaulted a taxi driver as he navigated the road sobbed and fell to the floor in court - despite being spared a prison term. Emma Richards, 41, burst into tears when the judge told her he could not reduce her sentence beyond the minimum term.
The mum-of-four appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, Tuesday October 14, having pleaded guilty to sexual assault. Richards, of Green Lane in Litherland, initially denied assaulting the taxi driver, but changed her plea following a previous court hearing.
Judge Simon Medland KC, said: "The evidence against her was frankly overwhelming because of the car CCTV footage."
The incident happened at around 8.50pm on June 12 this year. Prosecutor Ben Stanley said the taxi driver received a call to take Richards from Cumberland Street in the Cavern Quarter to Green Lane, and Richards got into the front passenger seat.
Shortly into the drive, Richards, who had been drinking heavily, made suggestive comments to the victim and said he "smelled nice". She then grabbed his left arm and leaned towards him, attempting to kiss him.
He was worried how she would reactThe victim rebuffed her and told her to stay in her seat, but Richards again attempted to grab his arm and lean in towards him.
Mr Stanley said: "A short time later, the defendant touched his groin, rubbing it with her right hand. He didn't tell her to stop because he was worried how she would react as they were trapped in the vehicle together, and this continued for a few minutes."
Richards pulled up her top and exposed her chest while rubbing the victim's groin and genitals. The incident lasted approximately four minutes, after which Richards left the vehicle.
The victim drove off and parked his taxi around the corner, where he called the police.
In a statement, he said: "Before this happened I felt like I was a normal person living a normal life. I was comfortable meeting different people each day as that was my job. I regularly had to sit alone with passengers and I never thought of this as something I should be worried about.
"I don't feel like the same person since the incident""Since this happened, that feeling of safety has gone. Being in a confined space with a woman makes me feel extremely uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel nervous even when there's no reason to be. This is difficult as I can't avoid these situations. Picking up passengers is how I earn my living.
"I tried to continue working after the incident as I wanted to carry on with my normal life. I found I couldn't do it any more, the anxiety I felt became too much for me and eventually I had to stop working (as a taxi driver)."
He said: "I don't feel like the same person since the incident. I suffered from anxiety and nightmares. I still think about the incident when I'm trying to sleep. I never thought something like this would affect me so deeply.
He added the assault had left him feeling "embarrassed" as he had been unable to have intimate relationships with women since it happened.
He said: "As a man there's an expectation I should be able to deal with things and move on. I tell myself I'm safe but my mind and body do not always react that way. While the incident lasted a short period of time the effects have lasted for a very long time after."
Matt O'Neill, defending Richards, said: "Her life has been very traumatic at times; (she has been) a victim of domestic abuse. The defendant told me she has attempted suicide previously. She's a woman who has lost her good character due to issues with alcohol."
He asked the judge to make a community order, adding: "These offences were clearly committed while she was highly intoxicated."
Judge Menary said: "This has had a serious impact on the victim. It proves the point that sexual assault, whether committed by a woman or a man, on a woman or a man, is a very serious thing. Maybe the incident was only a few minutes, but often has a profound effect on the victim."
Richards began to cry as she was asked to stand to hear her sentenceHe added: "She committed the offence because she was very drunk. I do not dispute for one minute that which is identified by the pre-sentence report, namely a history of anxiety and depression which are mental illnesses. All of that will have been exacerbated by any problems within relationships, violent or otherwise.
"I also have to balance against that the effect on the victim and the nature of the offence."
Richards cried as she was asked to stand to hear her sentence, which was an 18 month community order and a six month alcohol abstinence requirement.
She fell to the floor and bawled loudly as she was told she would be a registered sex offender for a period of five years. She had to be escorted from the courtroom.
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