Roofer who sexually molested 73-year-old woman in Sheffield jailed

Sheffield Crown Court heard on January 26 how roofer Danny Knowles, aged 62, of Tolney Lane, Newark, had been carrying out work at the pensioner’s home in Sheffield when he made advances before sexually assaulting her.

James Baird, prosecuting, said Knowles had pressured the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to have work done on her home before he started a sexual conversation.

Mr Baird said: “He came into the victim’s living room and stood in front of her and started rubbing her legs saying she had smooth legs and he asked how long it was since she had an orgasm and she told him to get out and get on with the work.

"The defendant was suggesting they go upstairs to her bedroom to give her a massage and told her to have a glass of wine and she would feel relaxed. She told him no.

"The defendant said he would would like to take her away for a weekend and she said get out of the house and the defendant grabbed her hand and placed it on what she thought was his erect penis.”

Mr Baird added that after the work was completed there was a discussion about money and Knowles arranged to return and the complainant contacted the police.

Knowles, who has a previous conviction for a similar offence against a 78-year-old woman, pleaded guilty to the sexual assault after the incident on July 25, 2019.

Lionel Grieg, defending, said married, grandfather Knowles acknowledges the sexual conversation should not have continued.

He added: “He made a grave mistake by taking the complainant’s hand and placing it on his penis but both parties were clothed.”

Mr Grieg said: “He expresses his sincere remorse and regret to the complainant and he hopes she can move on.”

Judge Michael Slater described Knowles’s behaviour as “disgraceful” and told him: “A custodial sentence of immediate effect is inevitable to mark the severity of this offence and to prevent you being at large in the community.”

Judge Slater sentenced Knowles, who is subject to the Sex Offenders’ Register, to 18 months of custody.

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