A veterinary nurse drunkenly groped a woman’s breasts after being invited to her house to look at a collection of exotic pets.
Shannon Tuddenham bonded with her victim over their interest in rare animals but when she was invited to come round to look at some she sexually assaulted her. The pregnant 26 year old was spared jail today but has lost her job as a result of her grim assault.
A judge at Liverpool Crown Court said the incident, which took place on June 15 last year, was “nasty” and resulted in long lasting effects on the victim. The pair had communicated over Facebook about exotic animals and the victim and her boyfriend organised for Tuddenham, of Garston, to visit their home in another part of Merseyside to see a number of their pets, including a python.
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Jonathan Rogers, prosecuting, said the couple picked Tuddenham up and drove her to the house they shared. She bought alcohol on the way, something the couple later told police they thought was strange given it was a Monday night.
Mr Rogers said Tuddenham became more drunk throughout the evening and the victim and her boyfriend noticed her starting to act inappropriately, putting her arms around them and going to sit on the lap of the victim. They then offered to give her a lift home in their car.
Mr Rogers said: “Firstly she had her arms around [the victim and her boyfriend] and started clawing at them, though it should be noted this was not an aggressive act but was instead in response to the music being played at the time. “[The victim] then pushed her back into her seat as [her boyfriend] was driving.
“She then put her hand around the side of the victim into her t-shirt and under her bra and squeezed and played with her breast for approximately 90 seconds.” He said the victim froze as the assault started then tried to force Tuddenham’s hand away.
When they reached her home, Tuddenham apologised to the victim’s boyfriend, though he did not know what for as he was until that point unaware of what had happened. Mr Rogers said the victim “returned home and sat in the shower and scrubbed her skin until she was red raw”.
She said she continued to have problems sleeping and going in cars after the incident. In interviews with police, Tuddenham said she could not remember the incident but she pleaded guilty to assault by touching earlier this year.
Charles Lander, defending, appealed to the judge, Recorder Ian Harris, not to jail Tuddenham, who has no previous convictions. He said she was deeply remorseful and could be rehabilitated in the community, while she had already felt the consequences of her actions.
Mr Lander said: “She has lost her job because of this, she is now on the [sex offenders] register.” Imposing a restraining order preventing Tuddenham from contacting her victim for five years, Recorder Harris said: “This offending was nasty, unpleasant and had far reaching effects on your victim.”
However, he spared her prison after finding she was unlikely to offend again and due to the imminent birth of her child. Tuddenham, of Lowbridge Court, was handed a 15 month prison term, suspended for 18 months.
