In June 2023, Stephen Parsons, a 45-year-old man from Lower Brynamman, committed a sexual assault on a young woman while both were under the influence of alcohol and cocaine at a property in Port Talbot, Wales. Parsons, who had purchased a 'not insignificant quantity' of cocaine for the gathering, approached the complainant from behind, hugged her, placed his hands under her top, and squeezed her breasts with both hands. The incident, which occurred in the early hours, left the victim profoundly affected, as detailed in her impact statement read to Swansea Crown Court.
The complainant described how the assault 'changed the course of my entire life', transforming her from a confident and outgoing individual into someone plagued by anxiety around strangers, severe depression, and feelings of worthlessness. She stated that it impacted 'how I think, how I feel, how I live', highlighting the lasting trauma inflicted by Parsons' actions. Following the assault, Parsons was arrested but denied the allegations, leading to a trial at Swansea Crown Court in October 2024, where a jury convicted him of sexual assault.
During sentencing on 7 November 2024, Recorder Peter Guest noted that Parsons, who was physically larger and stronger than the victim and twice her age, showed no remorse for the offence. The judge remarked that the jury had rejected Parsons' claims that the incident did not occur and emphasised the 'profound affect' of his behaviour on the complainant, as evidenced by her personal statement. Parsons has a history of 25 previous convictions, mostly for motoring offences, with his last conviction for shoplifting in 2015; this was his second conviction for sexual assault.
Prosecutor Hannah George acknowledged that the offence crossed the custody threshold but argued against immediate imprisonment, citing Parsons' exacerbated substance misuse following his brother's death in police custody in 1997 and gaps in his offending history demonstrating his capacity for a law-abiding life. The pre-sentence report supported a suspended sentence. Recorder Guest agreed, stating Parsons had come 'within a hare's breath' of immediate custody, and imposed a 14-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, along with a rehabilitation activity requirement and a drug rehabilitation requirement.
As a result of the conviction, Parsons was placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and subjected to a restraining order for the same period. The case was heard at Swansea Crown Court, with South Wales Police investigating the matter. Source: Wales Online, 7 November 2024.