A MAN groped four different women over the course of a month in Chester city centre, a court heard.
John Andrew Tissington, of Vyrnwy Road, Saltney, pleaded guilty to four counts of intentionally touching women over the age of 16 without consent, during the period of December 7, 2012, and January 25, this year.
West Cheshire Magistrates Court heard Tissington, 37, had followed women ‘that he thought were pretty’, before approaching them and groping them on either the breasts or the buttocks.
The court was told that Tissington, who lives with his father and father’s partner, suffers from Huntington’s Disease, a hereditary condition causing the deterioration and gradual loss of function of areas of the brain, affecting things such as movement, cognition and behaviour.
Rob Youds, prosecuting, told magistrates that on December 7 last year, Tissington followed a woman onto the Bridge Street Rows, increasing his walking pace as the woman became frightened.
Mr Youds said Tissington then appeared behind the woman and grabbed her buttocks, causing her to turn round and ask him what he was doing, to which the defendant looked ‘startled’.
One hour later Tissington followed a woman down Frodsham Street and into a subway near the Gorse Stacks car park, again increasing his walking pace to keep up with the victim who became alarmed.
Mr Youds said: “Tissington approached the woman and put his hand into her open coat and touched her breast.
“The victim said he told her they were beautiful and asked her to let him touch them.
He then reached into her coat and touched her breasts again.
“The woman was left shocked by the incident and locked herself in her flat when she got home, reporting the incident to police.”
On January 5, the court heard that Tissington had appeared behind a woman at a bus stop on Liverpool Road, and touched her indecently.
Mr Youds said: “He (Tissington) then moved in front of the woman and she attempted to keep him there so she could see what he was doing.
“She said everytime she moved a step to the left or a step to the right, he would do exactly the same thing. She asked him what he was doing and if he was trying to torment her, to which he replied ‘Yeah’.
“He stood in front of the victim for a perid of about six minutes until the bus arrived and the woman asked the bus driver to remember Tissington’s face.”
On January 25, Tissington, who was working on a voluntary basis for Oxfam in the city centre, followed a woman down Frodsham Street, speeding up to remain about four feet behind her before groping her left buttock.
He was apprehended by police earlier this month after being seen on CCTV footage at a pedestrian crossing in the city centre, attempting to grope the buttocks of a woman he had been following.
Kate Thew, defending, said: “He has shown remorse for what he has done and is actively seeking ways to address his behaviour and the issues he has with wanting to touch women.
“One of the main issues in this case is he suffers from Huntington’s Disease, which can show symptoms such as unusual behaviour. He has problems interacting socially and would welcome any help and support that may be offered.”
Magistrates committed Tissington to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court at a later date, imposing existing bail conditions stating he may not enter Chester city centre inside the ring road, unless to attend court or to visit his solicitor by prior appointment.