A 28-year-old woman who sexually assaulted a stranger in a busy Albert Dock bar while on a hen do has been handed a community order. Chelsey Brown, from Manchester, was found guilty of sexual assault following a trial earlier this year.
Incident at Albert Dock bar
On February 22, 2025, Brown was at a bar in the Albert Dock with a group of women on a hen do. Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday that she had "drunk excessively" the day before and on the day of the assault.
Judge David Potter told the court: "On the 22 February, 2025, at a bar in the Albert Dock you were present having drunk excessively that day and the day before on a hen do. You were in the pub, enjoying yourself, as were all the other people there. The majority of people were women. Everyone was enjoying themselves and in high spirits and enjoying the dancing taking place."
Brown had approached her victim earlier in the night asking her to dance. After they danced, Brown approached her again. As the victim turned her back, Brown put her hand underneath the victim's skirt and touched her for "a few seconds".
Victim impact
Judge Potter added: "When challenged in the bar, you initially apologised, and later retracted that apology when denying the sexual intention of the assault."
Portions of a victim personal statement, read to the court by Damian Nolan, prosecuting, said the victim felt "vulnerable, intimidated and betrayed". The statement continued that she no longer felt comfortable around women she doesn't know, her quality of life was negatively affected, and the incident strained her relationship with her boyfriend.
Patrick Cassidy, defending, said the assault was "an unusual case", noting it was filmed by a friend in the bar and lasted only seconds. He added that Brown suffered from an alcohol problem which "manifested itself".
Sentencing
Judge Potter said: "I have the consideration of the impact on the complainant, which I have read in her victim personal statement. It is an incident that has caused her to lose trust in people, especially women, it has caused her to socialise less and be more inhibited in her general behaviour. It has left her feeling vulnerable and has destroyed her confidence in people, especially women. It has led her to being anxious."
He accepted the incident was brief and over clothing, and that Brown had a settled life living with her parents. He also noted that alcohol had been misused as a coping mechanism, and that mixing it with anti-depressant medication was "not helping".
Brown was handed a two-year community order, including up to 30 rehabilitation days, an alcohol treatment requirement for nine months, and 150 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge.
