TEEN ‘SCARRED FOR LIFE’ BY TESCO TOILET PERVERT

33-year-old avoids jail after exposing himself to young woman

DANIEL Clift was caught performing a sex act on himself in the women’s toilets of a supermarket.

The 33-year-old pervert walked into the ladies’ at Tesco in Longton, pulled his trousers down and exposed his privates.

A shocked young woman went to get past him but he touched her on her upper thigh. In a victim statement, the terrified teenager described herself as ‘scarred for life’.

Clift, right, then punched a security officer who tried to stop him leaving.

He has now been sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Mark Brookes said a woman in her late teens was with friends at Tesco at 5.30pm on January 28 when she left to go to the toilet.

“While in a cubicle she heard the door open and close and assumed someone else had entered.

“She opened the cubicle door and saw the defendant standing by the cubicle door. He was masturbating and staring straight at her. He was two metres away.

“She called a friend. She was scared. “A female member of staff opened the door slightly. The victim tried to open the door and the defendant grabbed the inside of her upper thigh.

“He was trying to prevent her from leaving the toilets. The victim was in shock. She told him she was going to call police.” The defendant went to the main front door and a Tesco security officer told him to stop.

Mr Brookes said: “The defendant swung a punch which struck the security officer on the head. He said, ‘If you follow me I will bottle you.’” The sexual assault victim said she has been scarred for life. She added: “He scared me, petrified me – I can’t sleep because of it.”

Clift, of Bedford Crescent, Newcastle, who has 51 previous convictions for 110 offences, pleaded guilty to exposure, sexual assault and assault.

The defendant wrote a letter to the judge which he read to the court. He said: “I am deeply ashamed. I am so sorry. I pray for one last chance to do things right. I am in need of help, not punishment. I am a good man, I really am.”

Kelly Cyples, mitigating, said the defendant wanted a sentence which would lead to his immediate release. As part of the suspended sentence Clift must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 40 days.

Recorder Julian Taylor said: “This was a very disturbing incident. The public needs protection from the likes of you but it does not always mean an immediate sentence.

“I could only sentence you, within the sentencing guidelines, to a very short custodial sentence. I want to prevent any further behaviour. I want to try and stop this cycle so you do not offend like this again.

“I think you need help.”

Clift was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for the same period.