Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Drunk sexually assaulted dancer and slobbered over police officer
46 YEAR OLD GIVEN SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR INCIDENTS AT NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL
A MAN who sexually assaulted a dancer at Notting Hill Carnival before kissing a female Metropolitan Police officer has avoided jail.
Florin Matei, 46, had been drinking “beer, wine and spirits” when he approached the female dancer at the annual parade on August 28.
After noticing his behaviour, a female officer intervened but instead he threw his arms around her neck and kissed her, leaving “slime” across her face.
He was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of sexual assault.
Appearing today at Westminster Magistrates Court, Matei, of Islington, denied there was any sexual motivation and that he was an alcoholic. The court heard that he usually drinks each day before work and on the day of the incident, he had been drinking until 5am before attending the carnival.
In an impact statement read to the court, his first victim said that she had found it “very challenging” to concentrate on the parade afterwards and said: “This made me feel confused, I didn’t want it to happen, I didn’t like it, I didn’t feel comfortable in the situation and it threw me off.
Meanwhile the female officer said that she was left feeling “extremely dirty and violated” and that she had not given Matei permission to kiss her.
“The incident has left her feeling angry, at no point did he apologise for his actions or show any remorse,” prosecutor Ms McCormack said.
When District Judge John Zani questioned his actions, Matei, who was self-represented, shrugged his shoulders and said that it was a “mistake” and that he was “drunk” but denied being an alcoholic.
“I’ve seen some people in denial and I am afraid you are one of them,” Judge Zani said.
“This conduct is totally unacceptable. This young lady was there enjoying herself at the carnival and suddenly you come on the scene and when the police officer intervenes you behave in the same way towards the police officer.
“It is absolutely ridiculous and you say there’s no sexual motivation behind it all. You’re just not willing to take accountability for your actions. There is practically no remorse for what you’ve done and you’re not really helping me to come to a decision on how I should deal with this.”
Taking into account Matei’s guilty pleas, he sentenced him to 16 weeks imprisonment to be suspended for two years. He must also undertake 150 hours of unpaid work as well as complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and an alcohol treatment programme. Additionally he must pay his victims £250 each and pay the courts £85 in costs.
“I am entirely satisfied that you have issues with alcohol. You are not an immature, young teenager, you are a mature man,” Judge Zani said.
“If you don’t want to sort out your drink, we’ll see more and more of you and you’ll just be in and out of prison. There is a difference between having a beer after work and drinking the way you were drinking so you have little control over your actions.”