Thame Man Guilty of Sexual Assault

A THAME man has been found guilty of Sexual Assault against a 13 year-old girl.
The 25 year-old Thame man, who is currently the subject of a Community Order associated with an alcohol dependency problem, committed the offence in July last year (2004) in the Churchill Crescent play area in the town.
Witnesses told the court that they saw the man drinking cans of lager under a tree in the area, with a baseball bat by his side. After a while, they said, he walked over to them staggering as if drunk, with the bat in his hand. Several of the witnesses told how he stroked their friend?s thigh for several minutes whilst asking her to go off with him, and how she appeared to be very frightened.
The case was tried in the absence of the offender who failed to turn up for the hearing, having sent a message that he was receiving hospital treatment. A medical certificate was received by the deadline (last Friday, July 1) set by the judge, who extended the offender?s Bail to August 5, when he is expected to be sentenced.