Jane Hill, 55, was said to have been drinking and was in ‘high spirits’ – and continued to ‘pester’ the man despite his objections. She was said to have been ‘engaging in physical contact’ with a number of male guests at the festive celebration in December 2015.
Prosecutor Daniel Benjamin said: ‘He reacted by making it clear he didn’t like it and walked away. Later, she approached him again, placed her hand on his bottom, over clothing, and moved her middle finger. He again walked away. ‘For the final time, following a discussion about the touching that had gone on, she reached forward, effectively taking hold of the area around his genitals.’
She was charged with sexual assault, but a guilty plea to an alternative offence of battery was accepted by the prosecution. The victim said he believed Hill’s actions were meant to shock him rather than being done in a sexual manner. Her husband, Kevin, pleaded guilty to assaulting the same man and causing him actual bodily harm at a previous hearing. Hill, from Benfleet, Essex, was given a one-year conditional discharge after a judge told her her inappropriate behaviour had cost her her good name ‘in a pretty major way’. She was also ordered to pay £750 court costs.
Judge Jeremy Carey said, ‘You have fallen from grace in a pretty major way. You have lost your good name and the reality is you will never forget it, and nor should you.’ Kevin Hill’s sentencing hearing will be held at a later date.
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