A pervert who groped a 91-year-old woman’s breast and begged her for sex was spared prison – in case he got BULLIED in jail.
Peter Lake, 33, assaulted the elderly victim while she sat on a park bench after going to the doctors.
A court heard he approached the pensioner and sat down next to her before asking her to go into the woods for a “jump” – slang for sex.
When she refused Lake grabbed the woman’s left breast before fleeing the park in Woodhall Spa, Lincs., on September 6 last year.
But Lake, who had a convictions for indecent exposure, walked free from court on Wednesday after JPs heard he would be bullied if he went to prison.
Instead, he was slapped with a three year prohibitive activity order banning him from approaching lone women in public after he admitted sexual assault at Skegness Magistrates Court.
He was also made the subject of a three year supervision order and must sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years.
He will also have to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work as well as pay #85 court costs.
Prosecutor Becky Ritson told JPs the woman had sat down on a seat as she walked back from the doctors to wipe her watery eyes.
Lake then approached her and asked if she was alright.
The woman asked who he was and Lake mumbled something, before saying “let me help you, let me walk with you,” to which the woman refused.
He then went on to suggest she join him for walk in the woods for a “jump”.
Mrs Ritson said: “As he went, he flicked or flipped her left breast up before leaving.
“The woman again thought what a stupid man before carrying on down the road.
“He came back past her side and said ‘sorry.’ She went on further and he came past her side again and said something.
“She started to feel panicked because she thought she was being followed.
“She saw the vicar’s car in the drive and so knocked on his door.”
The vicar’s statement referred to her being in distress, asking for help and that she was frightened.
The woman’s victim impact statement described how she was left so frightened following the incident that she did not like going outside anymore and was a prisoner in her own home.
The court heard that Lake made a similar approach to another elderly woman that same day.
The court also heard that Lake received a fine in October 2009 for an exposure incident.
Gary Farmer, defending, said: “If he is imprisoned he is highly likely to be easily led, picked upon and bullied by other more sophisticated inmates.”