Enniskillen Court House
A 48-year-old man who tried to seduce his friend’s partner by telling her he would “give you something you’ll never forget” has appeared before court charged with sexually assaulting and harassing the woman.
Kenneth William Fawcett, of Carran Crescent, Drumclay, made several sexual advances towards the woman and on one occasion called to her home uninvited, asked for a kiss and told her he loved her.
Fawcett initially denied he sexually assaulted the woman on two occasions and harassing her on dates between February 28, 2013 and March 16, 2013. However, on the day on the contest, Fawcett changed plea and admitted to the three charges.
He was ordered to pay the woman £750 in compensation and was fined £300.
A prosecutor outlined to the court that on March 18, 2013, the injured party contacted police about several incidents concerning the defendant claiming that he made sexual advances towards her.
On March 1, last year, she was in Wetherspoon’s with her partner when her partner’s friend, Fawcett, came in and joined them.
She then went out for a cigarette when he followed her out and said: “I will give you something you won’t forget. I will give you what you want and I was in love with you before you met him.”
She felt uncomfortable and returned to the bar. Every time her partner left to go to the toilet he would lean over and say “give me a kiss” and dropped his arm on her legs and started to rub them which left her feeling uncomfortable.
Fawcett asked for her number which she declined and he replied: “I will get it by hook or by crook.” A number of days later, on March 9, they were again in Wetherspoon’s when Fawcett joined them. While she did not want him in their company she said she didn’t know how to tell her partner. When her partner went to the toilet he told her: “I will give you a good job.”
Because of the way he said this she knew he meant it in a sexual way from what he had previously said.
He then followed her out to have a smoke and told her he loved her.
When he partner left again Fawcett tried to kiss her and rubbed her legs, she asked him to stop but he just laughed.
On March 15, she was at her home when at 8.30am, Fawcett called to her house. When she answered the door he pushed past her and asked for coffee and cigarette and then asked for a kiss. She told him that her carer was on her way and went to make him coffee to try and stall him because she felt frightened and scared of what he would do to her.
She made it clear that his behaviour was unwanted.
On March 28, he was arrested over the allegations and taken to Enniskillen Police Station.
He admitted to being in their company in Wetherspoon’s, however denied making such comments and denied being in her house saying he had called around on a different day.
Defence barrister Heather Philips said they knew each other through her partner and would have met in Wetherspoon’s and other pubs.
She added: “These incidents happened 18 months ago, a significant period of time has passed since then.
“There has been no other contact between the pair since. There was no touching of the genital area and was in the lowest category of offending.
“He was abusing and using alcohol to a high level at the time but says he consumes far less alcohol and stays in the house a lot more now.
“There was an element of vulnerability, the defendant also himself is a vulnerable man and is receiving medication and that combined with alcohol had significantly impaired his judgement.”
District Judge Nigel Broderick described his behaviour as “totally unacceptable”. He continued: “To approach the injured party in this way no doubt caused her a good deal of anxiety and concern.
“You may well have known each other for a lengthy time but that in no way excuses your behaviour.”
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere