A mum-of-four collapsed to the floor in court after learning she would be placed on the sex offenders' register for five years for sexually assaulting a taxi driver. Emma Richards, 41, of Green Lane, Litherland, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, October 14, after admitting sexual assault.
Attack in taxi
The incident happened at around 8.50pm on June 12 after Richards booked a taxi from Cumberland Street in Liverpool's Cavern Quarter to Green Lane. Richards, who had been drinking heavily, sat in the front passenger seat and began making suggestive comments to the driver, including telling him he “smelled nice”. She then grabbed his left arm and leaned towards him in an attempt to kiss him.
The driver rejected her advances and told her to remain in her seat, but she continued trying to grab his arm and move towards him. Prosecutor Ben Stanley said: “A short time later, the defendant touched his groin, rubbing it with her right hand. He didn't tell her to stop because he was worried how she would react as they were trapped in the vehicle together, and this continued for a few minutes.”
Richards then lifted her top, exposing her chest, while continuing to touch the driver's groin and genitals. The assault lasted around four minutes before she left the taxi. The driver drove around the corner, parked and contacted police.
Victim impact
Judge Simon Medland KC said: "The evidence against her was frankly overwhelming because of the car CCTV footage." In a victim impact statement, the taxi driver said: “Before this happened I felt like I was a normal person living a normal life. I was comfortable meeting different people each day as that was my job. I regularly had to sit alone with passengers and I never thought of this as something I should be worried about.”
“Since this happened, that feeling of safety has gone. Being in a confined space with a woman makes me feel extremely uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel nervous even when there's no reason to be. This is difficult as I can't avoid these situations. Picking up passengers is how I earn my living.”
“I tried to continue working after the incident as I wanted to carry on with my normal life. I found I couldn't do it any more, the anxiety I felt became too much for me and eventually I had to stop working (as a taxi driver).”
“I don't feel like the same person since the incident. I suffered from anxiety and nightmares. I still think about the incident when I'm trying to sleep. I never thought something like this would affect me so deeply.” He added: “As a man there's an expectation I should be able to deal with things and move on. I tell myself I'm safe but my mind and body do not always react that way. While the incident lasted a short period of time the effects have lasted for a very long time after.”
Court decision
Defending Richards, Matt O'Neill said: “Her life has been very traumatic at times; (she has been) a victim of domestic abuse. The defendant told me she has attempted suicide previously. She's a woman who has lost her good character due to issues with alcohol.” He added: “These offences were clearly committed while she was highly intoxicated.”
Judge Menary said: “This has had a serious impact on the victim. It proves the point that sexual assault, whether committed by a woman or a man, on a woman or a man, is a very serious thing. Maybe the incident was only a few minutes, but often has a profound effect on the victim.”
He added: “She committed the offence because she was very drunk. I do not dispute for one minute that which is identified by the pre-sentence report, namely a history of anxiety and depression which are mental illnesses. All of that will have been exacerbated by any problems within relationships, violent or otherwise. I also have to balance against that the effect on the victim and the nature of the offence.”
Richards began crying when she was told to stand to hear her sentence. She was handed an 18-month community order and ordered to abstain from alcohol for six months. When told she would also be placed on the sex offenders' register for five years, Richards fell to the courtroom floor and sobbed loudly before court staff escorted her out.
