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Anger after 'bus groper' not charged

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A teenager says she is appalled that a man she claims sexually assaulted her has been let off without being charged.

The 18-year-old told how she was groped as she got on to a bus near Humberstone Road, in Leicester, on March 27.

The beautician said she was told by police earlier this week her assailant had been spoken to but that no further action would be taken.

Police have since said the man was given a caution.

She claimed that when the police officer spoke to her this week, he said: "What happened to you is what happens in pubs and clubs every Saturday night and if we locked up every man who patted a woman on the bum the cells would be overflowing."

The teenager said she could not believe her ears.

She said: "What kind of message is this sending out? That it is fine for any man to grope a woman?

"Are the police just waiting until he seriously assaults a woman before they act?

"It is ridiculous and not what should be happening."

The victim told how she was assaulted as she stepped on to a bus.

She said: "I was waiting for the bus when I saw these two men approaching.

"They started to call me a 'sexy lady' then carried on with lots of comments of a sexual nature.

"One of them circled round me leering at me. I could smell alcohol on his breath. It was awful.

"Then the bus arrived. I went to get on and he grabbed my bottom as I got on.

"I was shocked and the driver saw it happen.

"The driver asked if I was okay. I said I was but I was in a state of disbelief."

The teenager said that when the bus pulled up in Leicester city centre she burst into tears.

She said: "The driver said I was obviously not okay and he called the police."

She said the driver stayed with her until the police arrived, then told them about the assault.

She said the police officers drove her to the scene of the incident to see if they could find the assailant.

The teenager's mother said she was appalled that the man had not been charged.

She said: "This man sexually assaulted my daughter and must be dealt with accordingly.

"It is outrageous the police found him and then did nothing. It is tantamount to telling him it is acceptable behaviour.

"They need to reconsider this action and perhaps take him to court so he can be punished for the crime he committed against a vulnerable teenager."

She said it had left her daughter scared to go out alone and terrified of being at a bus stop.

A police spokesman said: "Leicestershire Police take all reports of indecent and sexual assault extremely seriously. We strive to provide a high standard of service to all victims of crime.

"In this case, we followed a number of lines of inquiry to identify and arrest the suspect. Due to the nature of the offence and the evidence available to us, it was determined that this incident was unlikely to meet the thresholds for a court prosecution.

"However, we did feel it was important positive action was taken and therefore the offender was issued with a police caution.

"We are sorry the victim is not happy with the service she has received. While we have not had the opportunity to speak with the officers concerned, we expect all officers to be professional and compassionate in their dealings with victims."

Anger after 'bus groper' not charged


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