‘Appalling’ woman sent to jail after spree of offences
She groped woman, exposed herself and assaulted cops
A‘SEXUALLY disinhibited’ grandmother has been jailed after groping a woman at a Rochdale nightclub.
Jacqueline Knott also bared her breasts in view of children and exposed herself to police officers.
Knott was branded ‘appalling’ by a judge after a court heard how she stripped off in public and made unwanted sexual advances whenever she got drunk. In one incident, the 53-year-old took off her top and bared her breasts in the street as children looked on during a row with a friend.
In a second, she accosted a woman in nightclub and grabbed her bottom and genitals, Minshull Street Crown Court heard. When officers arrested Knott, she tried to remove her clothes and flashed them from the back of a police van.
Knott - who is nicknamed ‘Knottweed’ by friends later argued the incidents occurred when she was suffering from mental health issues. But in a statement to police, one former friend said: “I feel betrayed because Jacqueline is a long term friend of mine.
“Her behaviour has left me gutted because my grandchildren had to witness what she did. I believe no child should have to see the behaviour Jacqueline showed that day. I do not wish to see her again.’”
The court was told how the first incident happened on November 13 last year when Knott when visiting a female friend.
Peter Wilson, prosecuting said: “A verbal altercation took place which culminated in the defendant leaving the house.
“She returned shortly afterwards but was refused entry and as a result became irate and aggressive. She repeatedly ran at the front of door and kicked it and was swearing at her friend’s grandchildren who were inside the house.
“Afraid for her own safety and that of the children, the friend started stacking items behind the front door to barricade it shut and
called police. But the defendant ran to the front of the window before exposing her breasts.
“When police arrived she rushed towards them aggressively and punched one of the PCS in the groin area.”
Another incident happened on December 4, 2022, in the Empire club in Rochdale. Knott sexually assaulted the victim, leaving her ‘shocked.’
Mr Wilson added: “They were not known to each other but the victim said the defendant initially grabbed her by the bum. The defendant was highly intoxicated and initially the victim thought it was an accident.
“But as she was about to shake hands with her, the defendant grabbed her by the vagina and would not let go. The victim was shocked and left the venue with friends.”
The victim approached police outside the club to make a complaint. In a statement, she said: “This incident made me feel small and disgusted.
“It’s put me off going out with friends as I feel scared and not safe from that woman. I now believe I can’t have a good time when I go out as I feel unsafe. I was having fun that night and what she did ruined it.”
Knott was ejected from the club and arrested by police. She was found in possession of amphetamine and cannabis.
She was later freed but last July 5, was arrested again after she was suspected
of driving a car whilst drunk. The prosecutor went on: “She was transported to custody but she became disruptive and abusive to officers, flashing at them in the van.
“As they searched her she tried to pull away and remove her clothing and was taken to the floor. She then kicked one of the officers on the leg.”
On July 27, she was detained again on suspicion of drink driving. She punched one PC in the chest and headbutted a female colleague.
She kicked a third officer in the testicles as she was being booked in at a custody suite. The court heard Knott had 32 offences on her record, dating back to 1984 including assaults on police and being drunk and disorderly.
Mitigating, Mark Fireman said: “Whilst she has caused harm to others she herself is someone who has her own difficulties.
“Her behaviour has been exacerbated by her use of drink and drugs although she accepts she has caused distress.
“She is sorry for what she has done.”
Knott, of Knott Lanes, Oldham, admitted sexual assault, outraging public decency, assault on an emergency worker, failing to provide a specimen of breath and drug possession at Minshull Street Crown Court. On Friday she was jailed for 12 months.
Sentencing, Judge Tina Landale told her: “You have to understand this whole series of offences is really appalling behaviour. When you are drunk or using drugs, you quickly become out of control, causing nuisance, violence and upset and you are sexually disinhibited. Whenever police come to sort this out, they’re only doing their job but you attack them as well and put them at risk. That cannot be tolerated I’m afraid.”
“This incident made me feel small and disgusted.”