Drunk woman who groped and exposed herself to boy, 13, in park is spared jail
Jade Berry told the 13-year-old she was going to 'ride' him and then removed her trousers in the park. Since the attack the boy has suffered 'night terrors'
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Jade Berry touched the boy's genitals over his clothing as he sat with his friend in a park (
Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
By
Monica CharsleyNews Reporter
Kenny Parker
- 12:38, 4 Oct 2023
- UPDATED08:18, 5 OCT 2023
A dental receptionist sexually assaulted a teenage boy before she exposed herself in a park following a drinking binge with her friends.
Jade Berry, 27, staggered over to the boy, age 13, and his friend and sat herself between them as they spoke about the boy's plans for his 14th birthday. Berry began to grope him at around 9pm in Rivacre Valley Country Park in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.
Chester Crown Court heard how she stroked his genitals over his clothes, offered him sex and told him: "I'm going to ride you 'till morning." As the youngsters got up to leave, she pulled down her trousers and "exposed her genitals and buttocks" before she passed out in the park on October 3 last year.
The two boys managed to film Berry before they rushed out of the park. Police were able to track her down after she left her bank card and phone on the bench. When quizzed she said: ''Oh My God, I do not recall anything'' but was later picked out by the boy at an identity parade.
The boy, who has ADHD, said he was so traumatised by the encounter that he tried to take his own life. He has been too scared to return to the park and has also suffered "night terrors", the court heard. Berry, who lives in the village of Little Sutton near Ellesmere Port, pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a male. She was not charged with or convicted of exposure. Berry was issued a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months after claiming she had mental health issues.
The judge ordered her to wear an electronic 'sobriety' tag for 120 days as part of an alcohol abstinence monitoring programme, where she will have to complete 35 rehabilitation activity days. She was also told to sign on the Sex Offenders' Register for ten years.
Image:
Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
James Coutts, prosecuting, said: "The victim was seated on a bench in woodland when the defendant approached him. She was unknown to him and was clearly intoxicated. "She sat between the two boys and began to touch and rub his genitals and the upper area of his thigh over his clothing whilst making highly inappropriate and sexualised comments. She said she was going to 'ride him till morning'.
"They had in fact been talking previously about his upcoming 14th birthday and it was quite clear to them she knew how old he was. The boys almost immediately left, leaving her on the bench. She removed her clothing and exposed her genitals and buttocks before passing out."
He further said the victim went home and informed his mother who alerted the police. Berry had left the park by the time the police had arrived. She was arrested two days later on October 5. Mr Coutts added that the boy was left "feeling scared, anxious and generally unsafe."
"The victim described feeling low after the assault and described an occasion where he tried to take his own life," he continued. He had night terrors about the incident afterwards and nightmares which caused him to wet the bed. He described taking medication and does not feel able to return to the park.
He does not leave the house much. He has received counselling from two separate sources to aid his recovery but he has lost the confidence that he had. Clearly, there are aggravating factors to this offence. There was the presence of alcohol and the inebriation of the defendant and the victim was particularly vulnerable due to his age and difficulties."
Berry had one previous conviction for drink driving in 2021. Her counsel John Wyn Williams counsel said: ''Her psychiatrist identifies anxiety disorder, panic attacks, borderline personality disorder, as mental health issues - and because of those problems, she has been drinking too much. There is genuine heartfelt remorse and she shows the victim empathy."
Sentencing, judge Mr Recorder Mr Eric Lamb, said: ''As it was a chance meeting, you were not aware of the vulnerability of your victim but the consequence of what you did have been awful for the complainant and his family. I must have regard to whether or not you present a risk of serious harm to members of the public by the commission of further specific offences, in your case the conclusion is that such a risk is low. I accept that there is genuine and heartfelt remorse.
"On the one hand, this is a sexual assault on a young person by someone who is 27 years of age and it is plainly a serious matter. But on the other side, there is strong personal mitigation as a result of genuine remorse, and the series of events that have led you to your mental health difficulties. You now realise that you must alter your ways.''
