Man groped teenage girls at bus stops

7:10am Thursday 28th August 2008

A MAN who groped two Swindon teenagers as they stood at bus stops has been given a community punishement.

Keith Nicholson was given an 18-month community order and handed a sexual offence prevention order, as well as being ordered to pay costs of £250, after returning to court to be sentenced for an offence under section 3 of the sexual offences act.

The charges related to one incident, which took place on December 1, 2006.

Emma Handslip, prosecuting, said on that date Nicholson, of Ripon Way, was drinking near Fleming Way bus stop.

She said after a while he approached a girl and asked her age. She said she was 14.

Ms Handslip said Nicholson, 44, then went behind her grabbing, her groin and breasts before letting go and continuing to ‘hang around’ the bus stop.

The second incident occurred on September 19, 2007, after Nicholson was kicked off a Queens Drive bus.

After loitering around the stop Ms Handslip said he approached a 16-year-old girl.

All of a sudden Nicholson grabbed the girl, pulling her close and touching her bottom.

She said a bystander then approached the pair, leading the girl away to safety.

Michael Mason, defending, said Nicholson has had a mental illness for more than 20-years and that his drink problem makes things worse.

He said: “Mr Nicholson suffers from a mental illness called schizoaffective disorder which impairs his social skills and when mixed with alcohol causes him to act in an anti-social way.

“There is no pattern of regular offending and no sexual offences in the past. He was drunk, the offences were in a public place, there was no skin touching – it all took place through the clothes.”

Nicholson’s brother Uplifter Nicholson, who joined him in the dock, also said a few words on behalf of his brother.

He said: “I have been supporting my brother for the past 20 years.

“I believe this is another sad case of mental health services failing to keep contact with my brother.

“It is clear that he has mental health issues and because of these this incident has arisen.

“In his view he can’t quite understand all this, but with specialist care we can beat his alcohol problem.”

Keith Nicholson was found guilty of the offences on July 10 after a trial.