Woman avoids sex offenders register after tearing open woman's onesie and sucking her breast
A WOMAN who tore another woman’s onesie and sucked her breast when a drunken movie night ended in a sexual assault has dodged the sex offenders register.
Paula Beer, of Leigh Avenue, Portchester, was instead handed a nine-month community order when she appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing on Friday.
The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to sexual assault on Wednesday after an incident involving another woman on November 18, 2018.
Beer and the victim went shopping before retiring for a movie night while her partner was at the pub.
Prosecuting, Nick Tucker said the assault occurred when the pair were ‘worse for wear’ after back-to-back drinks.
‘There came a point when Beer started unzipping the complainant’s clothing, a onesie,’ he said.
‘The victim protested and pulled the zip back up, but Beer pulled it back down with so much force she ripped the material.
‘She told the victim “I like your breasts” and starting sucking them. The victim froze.
‘Beer continued to touch her for a while then went and smoked a cigarette by the window.
‘As she did so, she apologised. The victim got dressed and left the flat.’
The woman fled to the pub where Beer’s partner was drinking, told him what happened then rang the police.
The call led to Beer’s arrest that night and a swab taken from the victim’s right breast matched her DNA.
Beer was unable to recall the drunken encounter and told police she believed the pair had only kissed.
But a victim statement read in court told how the violation left the woman needing counselling.
‘This has changed my whole life,’ it read.
‘I now have to go out with someone with me. I find it hard being home on my own.
‘I’ve done nothing wrong, but I’m left feeling like I've done wrong. This cannot be right.’
Mr Tucker told the court the victim was left ‘suicidal’ after the assault made her feel ‘humiliated and ashamed’.
Mitigating, Robert Bryan said the assault was ‘very much out of character’ for Beer.
‘She has been utterly distraught about this – she is extremely sorry for what happened,’ he said.
Sentencing, judge Richard Melville told her: ‘You had a lot to drink and you helped yourself to [the victim] when she did not agree.’
Beer, who was joined by her partner in court, must now complete 15 days of rehabilitation activities and pay £500 compensation to the victim.
She was also ordered to pay £450 and a three-year restraining order was granted between her and the victim.