The victim, who was pregnant at the time, said it had ruined excitement about becoming a new mother
A pregnant young woman was left shocked and upset when a leering and “boorish” man in his 60s suddenly kissed her on her forehead and sexually assaulted her.
Barry Myers “quickly developed an obsession with the top that she was wearing” and behaved in a completely unacceptable way. A judge at Hull Crown Court warned him: “You need to keep your hands to yourself.”
Myers, 66, of Hambledon Close, Bransholme, Hull, admitted sexually assaulting the woman on July 13, 2023. He pleaded guilty on the day of a scheduled trial after originally electing to have his case heard by a jury.
Charlotte Baines, prosecuting, said that Myers “quickly developed an obsession with the top that she was wearing.” Myers made it clear that he liked the lacy top and thought that it was sexy.
While the woman’s boyfriend was there, Myers began kissing her on the forehead and squeezed her chest for a couple of seconds. “He let go while laughing,” said Miss Baines.
Myers made an obscene suggestion to the woman. He left the scene and the woman was very upset about what happened.
“She was shaken by what happened,” said Miss Baines. Myers was later prompted to return and apologise and he said that he had not meant it in that way.
But he made a lewd suggestion about what the woman could do to him if she wanted. “He kissed her on the forehead yet again before leaving for the final time,” said Miss Baines. “The police were informed.” Myers was arrested at his home at 10.56pm the same night.
The woman later said: “Since the incident, I have found things to be quite difficult. At the time of the offence, I was pregnant with my first child.
“I should not have had to deal with being sexually assaulted. I was excited at the prospect of being a new mother.” This was “ruined” and “tainted with bad memories” and she had since moved away from the area.
“I am disgusted by what he has done to me,” she said. “I have found the whole ordeal to be stressful and it has affected me mentally. He should not have touched me in the way that he did and I still remember it clearly.
Do you feel safe where you live? You can have your say by completing the poll below or by clicking here.
“I can’t forget what happened. I feel as though this will continue to affect me, possibly through the rest of my life.”
Julia Baggs mitigating, said that Myers suffered from health problems. He had convictions of a dissimilar nature but the most recent offence these was in 2002.
Judge Mark Bury said: “The pre-sentence report says that he is terrified of going to prison. He needs to keep his hands to himself, then.”
Judge Bury told Myers: “She was 21 at the time and pregnant. She was wearing a certain sort of top. You were undoubtedly drawn to this lace top that she was wearing.
“You said that she looked sexy in it and you started kissing her on her forehead, then squeezed her breast. She was upset by what you did.
“You came back and it was hardly a fulsome apology and you ended up kissing her again on her forehead. The result is that this young woman has been quite badly affected by it.
“The way you behaved was, quite simply, not appropriate. It was boorish and unfeeling. You need to keep your hands to yourself.”
Myers was given 15 days’ rehabilitation and he must register as a sex offender for five years.