'Sexual predator' attacked vulnerable hospital patient in her wheelchair
28.04.2023 - 08:59
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A 'predator' sexually assaulted a 'vulnerable' patient in the grounds of a hospital, a court heard.
Russell Jones drunkenly 'loitered' in the grounds of Whiston Hospital 'attempting to befriend female patients' in October last year, the Liverpool Echo reports. The court heard how the victim, who was an inpatient at the time and using a wheelchair, was with her boyfriend and a friend by the entrance when the 45-year-old approached them clutching a bottle of vodka.
Robert Wyn Jones, prosecuting, told the court how the victim was then taken back to her room, but subsequently 'encountered the defendant on a number of occasions' throughout the day. When her partner left in a taxi, the convicted sex offender 'watched and waited' for him to leave before approaching her and attempting to push her back to her ward before a hospital volunteer intervened - at which point he 'claimed to know her'.
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She was later having a cigarette with the same friend when Jones began hassling them again and made an 'inappropriate remark' to the latter, saying he 'wouldn't mind having half an hour with her'. The 'sexual predator' interrupted the prosecutor at this point to say 'all of this is wrong'.
But Mr Wyn Jones continued and outlined how he then crouched down by the complainant, began stroking and touching her leg and 'moving his hand upwards'. Jones was arrested at around midnight while still on the hospital site.
He has a total of 40 previous convictions for 69 offences. The victim bravely read out a statement to Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (Thursday) in which she outlined the impact of the incident upon her, including suffering a panic attack as she 'believed he was
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