A pervert who groped a stranger in a daylight sex attack on a bus was snared by a police CCTV appeal – after he was recognised and shopped by his WIFE.
Donald Maclnness, 50, befriended his vulnerable victim on the vehicle before following her off and sexually assaulting her outside her home.
Officers issued a CCTV appeal to find the attacker which was recognised by his horrified wife of sixteen years, who reported him to the police.
Maclnness from Sunderland initially denied sexual assault but confessed on the first day of his trial, and will be sentenced at a later date.
Prosecutor Louise Harrison said: “This was a stranger. He has followed her off the bus and confronted her. I appreciate this was quite a frightening situation for her.
“This complainant is vulnerable due to her personal circumstances.”
The incident took place on a bus in Sunderland in October, and photos from the CCTV showing the painter and decorator were printed in the Sunderland Echo.
Phillipa Wylie, defending, said CCTV footage showed what happened on the bus.
She told Sunderland Magistrates’ Court: “It’s extremely alarming behaviour.
“This lady gets on the bus and sits in the seat opposite him.
“There is clearly an exchange of communication – they were smiling and laughing.
“At the time he was drunk. He can’t remember very much about it.
“He asked her ‘do l know you?’
“She said ‘I’m just friends with everyone’.
“Part of her condition is that she can come across as very friendly.
“He’s got off the bus with her and walked back to her address.
“She was up against a wall and he’s put his hands over the top of her clothing and moved them up her body touching her stomach and breasts.
“Someone then arrives at the building and shouts at him to go away.
“He is utterly horrified by his behaviour.
“He is very remorseful for his actions and he wants to make it quite clear to the court and to her that he meant no distress or harm to her.
“He accepts that alcohol has always been a problem for him and he accepts it will have been distressing for the lady.
“It has had a devastating impact on his own personal life.
“He was featured in the Sunderland Echo.
“They had a picture of him and his wife of 16 years saw that in the paper. She reported him.
“He lost his family life. He’s lost the family home. It’s had a detrimental impact on his mental health and his drinking.”
The bench asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the Probation Service, prior to sentence on March 15.
He was bailed on the condition he does not communicate with witnesses or his estranged wife, and does not enter a specified area of Sunderland.
