Drunk who molested girl, 14, on bus jailed
Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday Brodie Hazelgrave was drinking from a two litre bottle of cider when he boarded the vehicle on June 25 although it was only around 7am.
He offered the 14-year-old and her friends a drink which they refused before he sat down beside the girl.
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Hide AdNicoleta Alistari, prosecuting, said Hazelgrave told her he was 22 and had gone to the same school as them.
He then put his left arm around her neck and turned it as she tried to move away, so that his left hand went down her top under her bra and squeezed her breast.
She immediately got up and tried to get away. At first he blocked her but then she was able to get by. She reported what he had done and he was later arrested.
Hazelgrave, 23 of Eric Street, Bramley, Leeds, had been committed for sentence by Leeds magistrates after admitting sexual assault.
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Hide AdJailing him for six months and ordering him to register as a sex offender for seven years, the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC, said it was a serious offence.
He accepted Hazelgrave was now trying to address his drinking problem but said it crossed the custody threshold.
Theresa Clark, for Hazelgrave, said until he was 19 he was a hard working young man but was then the victim of a serious assault when he was repeatedly stabbed and lost his job.
He then started drinking out of boredom and eventually was drinking to excess. He had very little recollection of events on the bus but was ashamed and embarrassed at what he had done and had now entered a detoxification programme.