An illegal overstayer has been jailed for trying to grope two different Bournemouth schoolgirls on the same summer evening.
Satwinder Singh, 32, of Staines, Surrey, denied two offences of attempted sexual assault, but was convicted following a recent trial at Poole Magistrates' Court.
Sexual assault is an offence under section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. It has a maximum sentence of 10 years' custody on conviction on indictment; 12 months' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction.
We have previously discussed the legalities surrounding sexual assault. In general terms the offence is committed if one person intentionally touches another without their consent and the nature of the touching is sexual.
An attempted sexual assault is an offence by virtue of section 1 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981. A defendant is guilty of an attempted offence if they "embark on the crime proper" by intending to commit the substantive offence, but not quite managing to do so. Attempted sexual assault has exactly the same maximum sentence as the substantive offence.
The court heard that Indian-national Singh was on Bournemouth seafront on the evening of Saturday, 17th June 2023. It was a pleasant summer's evening and there were lots of families in the area.
Singh approached two sisters aged 15 and 16 who were stood outside Harry Ramsden's fish and chip restaurant on Undercliff Drive. He asked the girls if they were aged 18, to which they replied in the negative.
Singh replied that "15 or 16 is all good", before leaning in and trying to touch the breasts of the younger girl. Springing to her sister's defence, the elder girl told Singh to "fuck off", to which he shoved her out of the way before returning to the beach.
Less than half an hour later two other girls, this time both aged 16, were riding on an electric scooter close to Harry Ramsden's. They fell off the scooter and onto the pavement, at which point Singh purported to help them to their feet. Again, he leant in and tried to touch the breasts of one of the girls.
Upset at Singh's lecherous behaviour a friend of the girls reported his actions to a nearby police officer, who duly attended the scene and arrested the 32-year-old.
Singh's defence, which has been rejected, was that he had no sexual intent in relation to either of the girls.
Kachi Odidika, mitigating, said: "He was in quite a vulnerable position in this country and has an unsure immigration status."
The court heard that Singh, who is married to an Australian tattoo artist, is currently awaiting a decision from the Home Office.
District Judge Orla Austen, sentencing, said: "I have found you guilty for the two separate matters.
"I accept that you did not make contact with them but believe that that was just fortunate.
"It is clear that your actions have had a very significant impact on both of the victims. Seven months later when interviewed one of them said they were still struggling to go out of the house."
Singh was sentenced to 12 months' immediate custody.
He was ordered to pay £650 towards prosecution costs and £187 surcharge.
Given the length of his sentence, Singh is liable to deportation on his release.
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