Woman who flashed her breasts and squeezed policeman's bottom banned from parks

A drunken woman flashed her breasts and groped a police officer in a “shocking” confrontation in a South Tyneside park as families watched on. Louise Richards shouted “You fancy me, don’t you” before squeezing the male officer’s right buttock at North Marine Park, South Shields. The victim was one of four police officers who had been called to the park after complaints of rowdy behaviour by Richards and a group of friends.

After the confrontation with the officer, the 46-year-old, of South Shields, was arrested on the spot and admitted a charge of sexual touching at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court. She will be sentenced next month - but magistrates banned from entering any park in the town in the meantime. Janice Bellamy, prosecuting, said Richards had injured the officers’ ‘dignity’. Mrs Bellamy said: “The victim was one of four police officers called to North Marine Park at 2pm on Friday, August 21 to reports of a group of males and females being rowdy in the park. Richards was one of those present and the officer had cause to search her.



“She lifted her top and flashed her breasts. She was warned about her behaviour and told members of the public and families were in the park. Richards approached the officer and said ‘You fancy me, don’t you?’.” She said the officer began to walk away, but Richards grabbed their right buttock and squeezed it. She added: “The officer was shocked and had cause to arrest her. The officer says they believe it was a deliberate sexual act because of the comments she had also made.” Mrs Bellamy told magistrates: “You will need to consider compensation. The injury was to the officer's dignity rather than their person.”

Christopher Brown, defending, said Richards was getting help to tackle her drink problem. He said: “There is a great deal of support for her. She is trying to move away from a life of drink. In terms of this offence, she had a lot of drink on board and in the company of others she displayed foolishness. She didn’t intend to be malicious but her behaviour will be taken by a sober officer to be an affront to their dignity.” Magistrates asked for a probation report to be prepared on Richards ahead of sentencing on October 21. She was granted bail until then - with the condition she does not enter any parks in the South Shields area.