A teenager who put a shopper through a sex ordeal
A teenager who put a shopper through a sex ordeal on a busy Saturday afternoon after following her in his car has been locked up for four years.
Patrick Gallagher, 17, chased the terrified woman down an alleyway and shoved his hands up her top.
Despite the woman’s screams in the busy area no one came to her aid.
Gallagher then undid his trousers and grabbed her breasts and private parts.
His barrister, David Gottlieb, conceded it was ‘a truly ghastly matter’ and ‘every woman’s nightmare’.
Kenneth Dow, prosecuting, said on the afternoon of June 17 last year the 29-year-old woman was returning home from the shops.
‘She saw a white car heading towards her,’ said Mr Dow.
‘It pulled up and the driver, Gallagher said: ‘Excuse me, do you know where Victoria Road is?’
After the woman said she did not know, Gallagher said: ‘Can I have your phone number, you’re sexy.
‘
She refused and Gallagher continued to pester her for information.
The woman kept walking but as she came to a road junction she noticed Gallagher had reversed to block her from crossing.
‘She naturally enough became alarmed,’ said Mr Dow.
‘She walked to the right hand side but the car reversed to block her passage.
‘She walked to the left and the car blocked her way again,’ Mr Dow said.
The woman then decided to run down an alleyway off Egerton Road, Stamford Hill, north London, to try and lose the driver.
Gallagher grabbed hold of her shoulders from behind, and turned her round to face him and said: ‘Just a kiss, just a kiss.
‘
Mr Dow continued: ‘She was then pushed against the wall, with Gallagher still holding her shoulders.
‘He tried to kiss her.
She moved her head from side to side to prevent it.
‘He then grabbed her wrists and held them up in the air and said: “I want to touch your breasts.
I’m not going to hurt you.
”
‘He placed his hands under her shirt and rubbed her breasts, and pushed his body against hers and touched her private parts over her clothing.
‘He put his hands between her legs.
‘He said: “Don’t scream” and continued pushing his hips between her legs.
‘She carried on screaming, but no one was around to assist her.
‘He got dressed and ran back towards his car.
The woman was so frightened she found it difficult to breathe.
‘
On February 9 this year Gallagher was finally arrested for indecent assault and he denied the attack.
Swabs were taken from inside his mouth and the next month he was told his DNA matched that on the woman’s clothing.
Gallagher, of (7) St Anne’s Road, Tottenham, admitted indecent assault.
The court heard he has previous convictions for shoplifting and interfering with a vehicle.
Passing sentence Judge Quentin Campbell said Gallagher ‘clearly needs to come to terms with the fact he does have a sexual problem.
‘
He said there was a high chance of offending again.
‘It does seem you have an uncontrollable sexual drive.
‘The attack was terrifying enough when she was approached by a stranger blocking her way in a car.
‘Her terror must have been very great indeed.
‘This was a terrifying incident at the time and it will still be a terrifying incident in the back of her mind this time next year, and this time in 10
years time.
‘In respect of the offence of indecent assault the court can hardly envisage a worse example.
‘It can be quite clear there can be no sentence other than custodial.
‘
When sentenced to four years detention in a Young Offenders’ Institute, Gallagher turned red and, turning to the dock officer, said: ‘Four years?’
He then exploded with rage, subjecting the judge to a barrage of abuse, including calling him ‘a fat ponce.
‘
Gallagher was then led to the cells waving his arms in the air.
His mother, sitting in the well of the court sobbed inconsolably.
ends
