A MAN has been jailed for sexually touching a woman on a Flintshire street on New Year’s Day.

Anthony Albino started chatting to the victim, a 27-year-old woman outside the Spar on Station Road, Queensferry.

It was about 7pm and dark, said District Judge Andrew Shaw sitting at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, said Albino, 29, escorted the victim from the shop and a bit further along the road he made a remark about the size of her breasts.

“He touched both her breasts over her clothing and then placed his hand under the clothing and onto a breast,” Mr Espie said.

The court heard Albino then pulled down his pants and exposed himself. He revealed he had a tattoo in a private place. Albino then touched her under her bra and over her clothing.

Mr Espie said the victim was left “extremely distressed” by the incident which lasted a number of minutes.

Albino, whose family home is on King Edward Street, Shotton, but now lives in Burley, Leeds, admitted sexual touching, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The court heard Albino also twice breached his bail and had served about a month in custody at Altcourse Prison already.

Bethan Jones, defending, said Albino had learning difficulties and attended special school Ysgol Belmont in Buckley.

“He has no reason or explanation as to why the incident took place,” she said. “He was extremely distressed and embarrassed about it.

“He has spent the last month in prison which has been a salutary lesson for him.”
Miss Jones added Albino had a partner and his ex-partner and their two children lived in Deeside.

Sentencing Albino to 26 weeks in custody, District Judge Shaw said: “I accept the (probation) report says you were remorseful.

“It was a very, very serious offence and she was extremely vulnerable.

“It is so serious that imprisonment is the only option.”

For the offence of sexual touching, Albino was sentenced to 20 weeks in custody and for the offences of failing to surrender to bail he was sentenced to six weeks in custody, making a total of 26 weeks.

But Albino will only serve half of this sentence, said District Judge Shaw, and the month already spent at prison would be deducted.

Albino was also told to sign onto the Sex Offenders Register.