Last updated at 14:39, Wednesday, 18 April 2012

AN “immature” man who grabbed a woman in the street to “cop a feel” of her breasts has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years.

David Thomas Tyson, 29, tried to drag the woman into a friend’s home as she was walking to work in Barrow at 10am on February 17.

Mr Andrew Scott, prosecuting, yesterday(17/4) told Lancaster Crown Court the complainant had parked her car in Thwaite Street and noticed the defendant standing outside a house as she walked into Buccleuch Street.

He was smoking a cigarette and wearing only a T-shirt and underpants.

Mr Scott said Tyson stepped towards her and grabbed hold of her by her left upper arm and forearm, and dragged her towards the house.

She hit the defendant “wherever she could” in an attempt to break free and he let go as she screamed.

She ran into a shop in Rawlinson Street, called the police and showed officers the address where she was grabbed.

The defendant’s friend later told police Tyson had stayed the night.

Mr Scott said that, when interviewed by police, Tyson said he grabbed her “just to cop a feel of her body”.

Mr Scott said: “Police asked him where he intended to feel, and he replied ‘the top half of her body – her breasts’.”

The court was also told that Tyson was cautioned for exposure in April 2005.

Mr Francis Nance, defending, said Tyson’s GP had referred him to the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which works to improve people’s health and wellbeing, and he had started taking antidepressants.

Mr Nance described the offence as “bizarre” and added: “One can fully understand the lady’s thinking.

“He was dragging her into the house and, as your honour can see, he is a very big man.

“Although, I thought of using the word ‘lad’ there because in many ways he is very immature.”

Tyson, who lives with his parents in Lodge Terrace, Broughton, admitted attempted sexual assault.

Judge Roger Lancaster placed him on the sex offenders’ register and sentenced him to a community order, with the requirement to undertake a sex offender programme and a three-year supervision requirement.

The judge said the woman had suffered a lack of confidence, some disturbed sleep and panic attacks.

He told Tyson: “It’s clear to me you’re prone to acting impulsively at times when you feel sexually aroused and the evidence, both from the practice nurse and the pre-sentence report, suggests you really need monitoring and treatment in order to control these impulses you feel.”

First published at 13:09, Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk