A pervert's "outrageous behaviour" saw him grab a stranger's breast for no reason and without her consent. Rio Anthony Beardmore, 54, assaulted the woman as she made her way home in Newquay.
Beardmore, of Butler Street in Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing today (Thursday, November 14) having pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault on a female.
The court heard he approached two women who were leaving a building in the town to go home after spending the day at the beach on September 30, 2023. The pair noticed Beardmore "staring at them" and walking towards them before the unprovoked assault.
Prosecuting, Ryan Murray said the defendant asked the pair "if they wanted to see a magic trick" and told them: "I could make your t**s jiggle without touching them."
Mid-sentence he reached over and grabbed one of their breasts and they noticed he had an erection. He then left and made his way towards the local Wetherspoons where he was apprehended.
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His victim gave an impact statement saying his behaviour made her "feel more worried" for more vulnerable women in the community about what he was capable of. "I feel shook up," she said. "I felt like this male thought his behaviour was normal."
In an interview, he told police officers he wasn't sure he was even at the scene at the time and denied any sexual assault saying it was not something he would do.
Sentencing Beardmore, His Honour Judge Simon Carr said: "What you did that day was appalling. The woman would have been terrified. The idea that you can't walk down the street in this country without a man sexually assaulting you, whatever condition you were in, is not an acceptable position to find.
How to report sexual abuse and violence
How to seek help:
Anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted should contact the SARC in the first instance as they can provide immediate advice without going through the police when you are ready.
Devon and Cornwall SARC:
You can phone them on 0300 3034626 or fill in a self-referral form.
You can also contact Rape Crisis if you are female or Safeline if you are male.
The call centre is open 24/7.
First Light:
Helpline: 0300 777 4 777
Non-secure Email: saferfutures@firstlight.org.uk
Secure Email: saferfutures@firstlight.cjsm.net
Webchat: https://www.firstlight.org.uk/for-you/
The Women's Centre:
The Cornwall-based centre offers a Women’s Rape & Sexual Violence/Abuse Helpline. It runs from Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm, Monday and Thursday evenings from 6pm - 9pm and Saturday mornings 10am - 1pm. When the lines are not live, they have a 24-hour answer-phone service were you can leave a safe number and they will call you back.
More information here.
Men Against Sexual Abuse (MASA):
You can contact menagainstsexualabuse@yahoo.com or call/message Paul on 07468 569 042.
NSPCC:
Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000. Adult victims of non-recent sexual abuse can also get in touch for support.
Childline is available for young people on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk
How to report it to the police:
- If you require immediate assistance, call 999.
- Alternatively, you can call 101 or,
- You can visit your local police station.
- NSPCC 0808 800 5000 help@nspcc.org
- Childline 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk
What police will then do:
- Arrange for an officer to come and talk to you
- Ask you if you wish to speak to a male or female sexual offences liaison officer (SOLO)
- Explain to you exactly what happens when a rape or sexual offence is reported to the police
- Ask you for: your name and address, where and when you were assaulted, what happened to you and any details of your attacker
- Keep you updated about the investigation
More details here.
"She would have been frightened, not just that day, but in the days that followed, that not just her, but others could have been subject to assaults by you."
He added that he accepts Beardmore was at the time living "a transient lifestyle" and was addicted to alcohol but, "that provides no excuse for the outrageous behaviour you conducted".
Having already been in custody for two months in what his barrister called his "first taste of prison" he was sentenced to an 11-month community order. Judge Carr said Beardmore was not required to be registered as a sex offender and was in "no position" to pay a fine.
