A jury has acquitted a man who grabbed a woman in a bar of sexually assaulting her.
Michael Connolly, known as Irish Mick, denied groping the woman’s breasts and went on trial for three days at Brighton Crown Court this week.
Richard Hearnden, prosecuting, told the jury that Connolly, 58, of Chelworth Road, Eastbourne, had been dancing with the complainant shortly before the incident.
It happened on a Saturday night almost two years ago during a party at Eastbourne Angling Club, in Royal Parade.
Mr Hearnden said that Connolly had sat down before the complainant went to return to her seat – and both seats were against a wall.
He said that Connolly wouldn’t get up so the complainant, whose identity is protected by law, tried to edge her way between the defendant and the table.
She had her back to Connolly when he reached both of his arms round her and grabbed her breasts, the court was told.
But he said that he was trying to stop her from falling forwards on to the table and knocking over the drinks.
The court heard that Connolly was regarded as something of a character the club and liked a drink.
Mr Hearnden read to the jury a statement agreed with Sarah Thorne, defending.
It said: “The complainant reported the allegation of sexual assault to the police on Tuesday 28 June 2022.
“Michael Connolly was interviewed by the police under caution on Wednesday 28 September 2022.
“In the interview, he made a short written statement that was then read out by his solicitor.
“The relevant part of the statement read: ‘I deny the offence of sexual assault …
“‘I accept that I was at Eastbourne Angling Club on 16 April 2022. I was dancing with (the complainant). I went to sit down as I have sciatica.
“‘Once I sat down, (the complainant) approached and tried to squeeze in between where I was sat and the table.
“‘(The complainant) had had quite a lot to drink. As (she) was squeezing through, she went to fall forward. I grabbed (her) and pulled her back to stop her falling on the glasses.
“‘(She) did not need to squeeze through. She could have walked around the opposite side of the table without any difficulty.
“‘I did not grab (her) in a sexual way and, again, I deny any offence completely.’
“Michael Connolly has no previous convictions or cautions.”
After the jury returned a not guilty verdict on Thursday (22 February), the judge, Recorder Amy Packham, discharged Connolly and thanked the jury.
