Guilty of sexual assault, company director who kissed his friend’s neck
A FORMER company director has been ordered to register as a sex offender after putting his arm around a female friend and kissing her on the shoulder and neck.
William Freeman, 58, was talking to the woman about a swarm of wasps she had seen on the roof of a building when he made a pass at her.
The woman turned to look up at the nest when Freeman put his arm around her, a court heard.
Freeman, an ex-director of Northampton Water Ski Club, then kissed the startled woman on her shoulder, neck and the back of her head.
The court was told that the woman pulled away from him, and he then apologised for what he had done.
The woman reported the incident, which took place in August 2016, to police and Freeman – who was said to have never even had so much as a parking ticket before – was arrested.
Freeman, of Barford near Warwick, originally denied a charge of sexual assault but changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial.
He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to sign as a sex offender at Warwick Crown Court on Wednesday. Judge Sylvia de Bertodano said: ‘There has been no trouble in the intervening 18 months. I am glad you have accepted today your r esp onsibil serious
‘This was an impulsive act’
ity for this, rather than putting this lady through a trial.’
She added: ‘It is difficult to know what to say to someone like you. I don’t know what was going through your mind, and I don’t suppose you do either. This was an impulsive act. You have had a very lesson taught to you – you do not make advances towards women who don’t want you to.
‘I am not belittling what happened, but I do take into account that in the 18 months since this there has been no trouble at all, and I am convinced there will be no trouble in the future.’
Bernard Linnemann, prosecuting, said that the woman had called the police after speaking to her sister and her partner about what had happened.
When Freeman, who was of previous good character, was arrested and interviewed, he denied committing any offence.
Mr Linnemann told the court that the incident had caused the woman a great deal of hardship. He said she was undertaking counselling and having to ‘live a life of avoidance’ when she is out because she is worried about coming across Freeman.
Ann Cotcher, QC, defending, said: ‘He is 58, and is in a close and loving relationship. It was an isolated incident in a character without blemish.
‘It was an incident that lasted but a moment, and one he has regretted ever since. It is so unlikely anything like this will ever happen again. He is a very frightened man, a very nervous man. Just the waiting is punishment in itself. He has never even had a parking ticket before.’