A SOCIAL worker who sexually assaulted a woman twice in the same day has walked free from court.

Joseph Owusu, from Widnes, attacked the woman during incidents in Chester city centre in November last year.

Warrington Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday, April 19, that the 49-year-old made sexualised comments towards his victim before asking her for a hug.

She ‘reluctantly’ agreed, but the defendant reached inside her coat and ‘squeezed her bottom with both hands’ as he hugged her.

Later the same afternoon he assaulted her again, pinching her backside as she passed him.

Owusu, of Lea Street, was arrested five days after the attack and denied sexually assaulting the complainant under interview.

The court heard that she was left feeling ‘disgusted and wanting a shower’ as a result of his actions.

Magistrates were told that the dad-of-three, who was supported by his wife in the public gallery, ‘feels a great sense of shame’ having been convictions of two counts of sexual assault after a trial.

Owusu, who is originally from Ghana and has two previous convictions for four offences, was handed a two-year community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 45 days.

He was also told to pay a £345 fine, court costs of £320, £300 in compensation and a £95 victim surcharge – a total of £1,060, which will be repaid at a rate of £50 per months.

Sentencing, magistrates panel chairman Steven Walton said: “This is a serious offence.

“It’s a very serious offence, and we do hope that following this you’ve learned your lesson and you do understand boundaries and what is right and what is wrong.”

Owusu was also told to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of five years.