Christmas party groper too hung-over to be sentenced

A JUDGE was forced to postpone the sentencing of a man who pleaded guilty to groping a woman at a Christmas party because he arrived in court with a severe hangover.

James Ward was due to be sentenced at Exeter Crown Court for groping the woman at a Christmas party three years ago.

However, he turned up to court for sentencing after being taken to hospital the previous night because he had collapsed from consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. He was so hungover he was unable to give proper instructions to his lawyer.

A judge released Ward so he could sober up but warned him he would be locked up if he turned up drunk to court for his postponed sentencing.

Ward, 62, of Exeter, admitted two counts of sexual assault and will be sentenced on Jan 6. The offences took place at Christmas in 2016 and in March 2017.

Judge James Townsend told him: “You must turn up sober. If you turn up drunk, you will be remanded in custody while you dry out and sentenced when you are fit to be so.”

Rachel Smith, defending, said: “My client was found collapsed and in a state last night and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

“He chose not to remain in hospital but there are concerns about his capacity and level of intoxication.

“There is an application for a restraining order and possibly a sexual harm prevention order and I need to take instructions on them. This is a complex sentencing exercise and he needs to understand about custodial sentences and the implications of any community orders.”

Herc Ashworth, prosecuting, said the other case was due to be referred to the Crown Prosecition Service by the police for a charging decision shortly.

Ward was helped out of the dock by custody officers and released on bail.