Paul Gerry 48

Description

A brazen pervert sexually assaulted a "terrified" woman while his girlfriend was in the same room.

Paul Gerry, who has a past conviction for sexually assaulting a teenager, touched the victim's breasts and cupped her genitals during a gathering at a house in Newcastle, all while his partner was just metres away. A court heard that the 47-year-old's victim was considerably younger than him, although she was an adult, and was left too frightened to shout out.

The following day, Gerry sent the victim messages asking her not to say anything and offering her "£40 or £50 cash", prosecutors said. However, his predatory behaviour was reported to the police and he was arrested,

Gerry, of Hallow Drive, in Throckley, has now been jailed for 12 months after a judge deemed that he hadn't learned his lesson following his conviction in 2015 for similar offending. Recorder Thomas Moran said: "You didn't learn from your past conviction. That or you're just unable to control your sexual urges, despite the fact a great deal of work has already been done with you on your three-year community order and sex offenders' programme from 2015."

Mr Recorder Moran added: "You do present a degree of risk and the prospect of rehabilitation doesn't seem to be particularly good. The appropriate punishment can only be met by custody."

Newcastle Crown Court was told that the victim was at an address in Newcastle with Gerry and others one evening in October last year when he began secretly touching her inappropriately. Jane Waugh, prosecuting, continued: "He put his hand under her top and over her bra and felt her breasts.

"The defendant then unbuttoned her trousers and put his hands under her knickers and cupped her genitals. His girlfriend was present in the room. [The victim] was so scared, she couldn't talk or move."

The court heard that, when Gerry and the victim were later alone, he tried to kiss and hug her but she pushed him away. The following day he then sent her messages asking her not to tell anyone what had happened and offering her cash.

However, the woman later reported Gerry to the police and he was arrested. In a statement, she said: "This incident left me feeling closed in on myself emotionally and it's changed my life both physically and mentally. My mental health has deteriorated, where as before I had no issues."

Jennifer Coxon, defending, said Gerry was a carer for his elderly father and was remorseful. She added: "Mr Gerry has indicated that he's unable to make sense of what happened or why he did what he did that night. He doesn't usually drink on a regular basis and, while he hadn't consumed a large amount of alcohol, it had affected him considerably."

As well as the prison sentence, Gerry must sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.