05/11/2019
Former England footballer Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne was found not guilty in October of sexually assaulting a woman he kissed without consent on a train. The 52 year old was accused of drunkenly grabbing the woman’s face and “forcibly and sloppily” kissing her on the lips on 20 August 2018.
A jury at Teesside crown court in Middlesbrough acquitted the former midfielder of sexual assault, and also of an alternative charge of assault by beating.
He, understandably, celebrated this outcome; thanking the judge, the jury and (slightly bizarrely) his dentist.
However, what does that mean for other victims of similar assaults?
In the headline, I have referred two them as 'minor' sexual assaults. They clearly are not as significant, traumatising or life changing as sexual molestation, rape or other penetrative assault. However, they are still assault.
Could it be that an outcome of Gascoigne's acquittal could be that other people will feel they can do similar things?
I pose this question having seen a news story in my home town of Andover, where a female cyclist was grabbed by her hand and kissed on the cheek, before the assailant tried to kiss her on the lips.
No one should have to worry about such uninvited contact.
The police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to interview in connection with the assault. The man is described as being in his 50s, about 5 ft 8 inches tall and of medium build, with short dark hair and light grey stubble.
If anyone reading this recognises the suspect, they should phone the police on 101, quoting the crime reference number 44190388010, or alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information can be left anonymously.
Regardless of the fact that Gascoigne was acquitted of a similar offence, we should do what we can to protect our wives, sisters, daughters, mothers and nieces from unwanted sexual advances.
No one should be subjected to sexual assaults, no matter how 'minor' they are considered to be.
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