Evesham, England man convicted of groping saleswoman

A 45-year-old man groped a sales assistant while he bought a newspaper and a packet of chewing gum, a court was told.

The actions of Michael Metrovich made the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, feel sick, intimidated as well as paranoid about whether it would ever happen again. Metrovich, of St Philip’s Drive, Evesham, admitted two charges of sexual assault on a female when he attended Worcester Magistrates Court.

CCTV footage of the incidents, which happened on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3, was played to the court. Marie Watton, prosecuting, said: “She was serving in the store when Metrovich came in, walked straight up to the counter and, using his right hand, he touched her left breast.

“He didn’t say anything to her and just picked up a packet of chewing gum.”

Miss Watton said the shop assistant did not make a complaint about Metrovich, who she knew as a customer, until he returned the following day to buy a newspaper.

“When he came into the shop he walked straight up to the counter and cupped her left breast,” said Miss Watton.

She said the victim had not given the defendant permission to touch her on either ocassion.
Miss Watton said Metrovich admitted in police interview that he had “overstepped the mark of their friendship”.

“He considered himself to be a prat because of it,” she said.
“He said there was no malice behind his actions and didn’t mean to harm her.”

Nick Roberts, in mitigation, said his client, who was under the influence of alcohol on both ocassions, had misread the relationship with the sales assistant.

“This is not a pattern of offending,” he said. “This is something he regrets. He is mortified and thoroughly ashamed about what’s happened.”

District judge Bruce Morgan sentenced Metrovich to a total four months in prison which he then suspended for three years. He has made Metrovich sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years and complete a community sex offender group work programme. Compensation totalling £250 will be paid to the victim and Metrovich must also pay £60 court costs.