A retired police officer who groped a young woman in an early-hours sexual assault has avoided jail.
Alan Curtis, 52, of Pwllmelin Road in Llandaff, Cardiff, denied putting his hand down the victim’s top and kissing her, but was convicted by a jury after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
Prosecutor Eugene Egan said the victim was left ‘in shock’ by what happened.
The court heard the incident occurred in Cardiff in the early hours of Sunday, April 9.
Alan Curtis, 52, of Pwllmelin Road in Llandaff, Cardiff, denied putting his hand down the victim’s top and kissing her, but was convicted by a jury after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court
Prosecutors alleged Curtis put his hand down the woman’s top, touched her breast and began to kiss her.
Mr Egan said the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, ‘recoiled’ at his behaviour and did not immediately report the incident.
When her account was put to Curtis during a police interview, the defendant denied touching her breast and kissing her.
Curtis, a retired British Transport Police officer, pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
His trial earlier this month lasted for three days and was before a jury of six men and six women.
It took them seven hours and 35 minutes to return their unanimous verdict.
Judge Eleri Rees thanked them for their ‘careful consideration’ of the evidence.
They found that Curtis intentionally touched the woman, the touching was sexual, she did not consent, and he did not reasonably believe that she consented.
The court heard the incident occurred in Cardiff in the early hours of Sunday, April 9. Prosecutor Eugene Egan said the victim was left ‘in shock’ by what happened
He did not react when the verdict was delivered.
At that hearing, defence barrister Derek Perry asked for an adjournment so a pre-sentence report could be prepared.
On December 20, Judge Rees gave Curtis a 12-month jail term, suspended for two years, and ordered him to complete 45 days of rehabilitation activity.
Curtis must comply with a 16-week curfew, which requires him to stay at home between 8pm and 7am.
He must also pay £3,500 towards prosecution costs, along with £140 to fund victim services.