Bemerton Heath man avoids jail for sexual assault
67-year-old Philip Arthur's been given a suspended sentence
A Salisbury man's avoided jail after pleading guilty to sexual assault.
67-year-old Philip Arthur, from Westwood Road in Bemerton Heath, has been sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years.
It's in connection with two incidents in Pewsey on November 1st and December 31st 2023.
In the first case, Arthur asked his victim for a massage and ran his hands along her thighs without consent, while in the second, he smacked her bottom while she was cleaning.
He's also been sentenced to 60 days of rehabilitation activity and ordered to pay £154 victim surcharge.
Local Crime Investigator O'Harney said:
"This incident was reported to us through a third party. It was a frightening assault that took place in the victims home by someone she trusted.
"Violence Against Women and Girls is a top priority for Wiltshire Police and we hope the result sends a strong message to perpetrators. I hope that the victim in this case feels a sense of justice for what they went through.
"I also hope that this encourages more victims of all crime to come forward. We are listening and we will investigate."
If you've been the victim of a sexual assault, you're encouraged to call Wiltshire Police on 101, no matter how much time has passed since the incident.