A trip to a Warrington gym ended with a young woman being sexually assaulted by another keep fit enthusiast during a “mad half hour”, a court heard.
Stuart Bennett molested the woman, whom he knew, at the Pure Gym in the town after pinning her against a wall on May 22, 2023.
Liverpool Crown Court heard today (Thur) how he later described his behaviour as “a mad half hour.”`
Laura Knightly, prosecuting, said that he had “pushed her against the wall and pinned her to it with his hands holding her wrists by her sides and tried to kiss her.
“She moved her head so he could not kiss her lips but he put his mouth on her neck and top of her chest kissing and sucking her skin,” she said.
Miss Knightly said that he later apologised and described his behaviour as ‘a mad half hour.’ He said he had pretended to chew on her neck and denied sexually assaulting her.
The father-of-two was, however, convicted of the offence after a trial by a jury, but they acquitted him of another sexual assault that she claimed had happened.
In an impact statement the victim said she had not suffered physically but there had been an emotional impact but she tried not to let it get her down. She said she was fearful of repercussions and felt he targeted vulnerable girls.
Jonathan Rogers, defending, said 35-year-old Bennett had no similar convictions. “He acknowledges the way he behaved was wrong and he needs to behave more appropriately.
Judge Stuart Driver, KC, sentenced Bennett, of Pear Tree Place, Latchford, to six months imprisonment suspended for 12 months.
He also ordered him to carry out 10 days rehabilitation activities and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for seven years. The judge also imposed a seven year restraining order.
