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A 45-year-old man from has been sentenced for sexual assault by touching after grabbing a train dispatcher's bottom - before claiming it was 'banter'.

Andrew Graham grabbed the man's backside while drunk - with the victim immediately turning around, denying him access to the train and ordering him to leave the railway station.

Graham, of Sandbrook Close in Shavington near Crewe, did so, before returning and squaring up to the victim and his colleague.

He then left the station, in Manchester, after more of the worker's colleagues arrived.

The incident was reported to the British Transport Police, with Graham identified by his Northern Rail travel pass - which he had shown to the victim.

He was then interviewed by police and told them he was drunk and couldn't remember much of the incident - which took place on Friday March 29 - but that any touching had been 'banter'.

Now Graham has been handed an eight week curfew after pleading guilty to sexual assault by touching at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

The curfew, which will be monitored by electronic tag, means he must be within his home between 8.30pm and 5.30am each day.

He was also ordered to pay £50 compensation, an £85 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.

Detective Constable Liam Deasley said: “Any form of unwanted sexual behaviour is always taken seriously and we will always investigate.

"As part of our Focussing on Your Safety pledge to rail staff and the travelling public, we are committed to making sure that everyone has the right to a safe journey.





“Graham’s warped idea of ‘banter’ is actually a sexual offence and we encourage victims of unwanted sexual behaviour to report any incident so that we can take action.”



A spokesman for Northern Rail said: “We will not accept or tolerate any form of abuse directed towards our staff – or our customers – and will continue to work closely with BTP to take appropriate action against those responsible.”

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