Alastair Main leaving Wimbledon Magistrates Court (Photo: PA)
A married City lawyer has been convicted of pouring beer over a woman, pulling up her skirt and repeatedly slapping her bottom at a Christmas party.
Alastair Main, 35, attacked the woman at the London Rowing Club in Putney, south-west London, in 2015.
He emptied his glass over the woman in her 20s and called her a "slut", while also making reference to her nationality, after she refused to give him a hug.
Moments later, the former captain of the rowing club followed her into the ladies' toilets, where he "smacked her approximately five times on the backside".
Main, from Kingston-Upon-Thames, was found guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court of one count of racially-aggravated assault and one of sexual assault over the attack at the club's Christmas dinner on December 16 2015.
His defence lawyer, Eloise Marshall, had previously questioned "inconsistencies" in the victim's evidence, suggesting she may have been "exaggerating" some of the details.
But District Judge, Barbara Barnes said she found the victim's evidence "credible and convincing".
Addressing Main, she said: "You admit you were drunk. It was, after all, a Christmas party.
"You admit you did pour beer over the complainant and did call her a 'slut' on a number of occasions.
"The prosecution witness gave credible and convincing evidence, describing the course of events.
"I don't find it undermines her credibility to such an extent her evidence cannot be relied upon.
"Her precise memory may have been affected by fear and embarrassment, which was caused entirely by your behaviour."
In giving his evidence, Main said he had not asked the woman for a hug, saying they had had a conversation during which they both became "upset".
He alleged the woman "slapped" him in the face after the exchange and went to another room in the clubhouse, where he accepts he went after her.
Wearing a grey suit, white shirt, blue-and-white spotted tie and a wedding ring as he appeared in the witness box, he told the court he poured the beer over the victim and later followed her into the toilet to "make amends".
He also denied making reference to her nationality.
But Judge Barnes dismissed his evidence.
She said: "I have to say I did not find you to be a credible or convincing witness.
"You admit you were drunk. You admit being a various times angry, upset, confused, apprehensive.
"Your memory of the events of that night may have been affected by the amount of alcohol you had.
"You admit also you followed (the victim) to the ladies' toilets.
"I do not find it plausible that this pursuit by you was just an effort to sort things out.
"You were pursuing her because you were angry and you were determined to control the complainant's behaviour.
"You assaulted her again and I also find this assault was sexual in nature.
"At no point was this simply flirtatious or cheeky. I don't find you could reasonably have believed (the victim) could have reasonably consented to that behaviour."
The judge said she was "satisfied" Main had referred to the victim's nationality around the same time he poured beer over her and called her a "slut".
And she said: "This is a term you seized upon that evening Mr Main and you used it to vent your feelings.
"Having considered all this evidence I am satisfied so that I am sure that you did commit these offences and I do find you guilty of them both."
Judge Barnes said Main was of previously good character and adjourned for a pre-sentence report, in which a range of options will be considered including a community order.
Main was given unconditional bail to appear on January 26 for sentencing.
No comments:
Post a Comment