Bulwell street beggar too drunk to face sex assault charge is convicted in his absence

Brendan O’Connor (45), of Lawton Drive, shouted and swore, claiming he was ill with flu, when he appeared for a trial at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.

He was in such a state that his solicitor, Michaela Dunk (defending) said she could not take proper instructions from him.

Therefore, she applied for an adjournment to his case, in which he pleaded not guilty to sexually touching an 18-year-old woman.

“He has told me he is not well and has even been hallucinating,” said Miss Dunk. “He has been drinking, but I have not seen him like this before.”

However, the magistrates refused her application, and ordered that the trial must continue.

As a result, O’Connor lost his temper again and had to be bundled out of the courtroom by a security guard.

Then, when the bench decided to press ahead without him, Miss Dunk withdrew from the proceedings too.

“Mr O’Connor was so incapacitated that he was not able to participate in the trial process,” said court clerk Sarah Watkins.

“It was self-induced intoxication, and he has been unruly in court.”

After hearing from three witnesses, O’Connor was convicted of the offence, which happened in the Hockley area of Nottingham at around 11pm on Friday 5th September.

Now a warrant has been issued for his arrest so that he can be hauled back before the court at a future date to be sentenced.

The 18-year-old victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court she was in Hockley at the time with her boyfriend and his sister, helping them sell promotional leaflets for nearby bar and restaurant, Revolution.

O’Connor approached them because he knew her boyfriend from their time living together at an YMCA hostel.

The court was told O’Connor kept saying she was beautiful before grabbing her round the waist and backside and kissing her three times on her forehead, making her feel ‘very uncomfortable’.

Her boyfriend, who eventually restrained O’Connor, told the court: “She was petrified.” His sister said: “She was terrified and I was really worried about her.”

The court was told that O’Connor also tried to start fights with men on a stag do, and flirted with women passers-by, making crude comments.

Marjorie Kirkham-Smith (prosecuting) said that when arrested and interviewed by police, he said he had been begging for money, but denied kissing the woman.

“He said he was just being cheeky, and called all women beautiful when he didn’t know their names,” said Mrs Kirkham-Smith.