A NETWORK Rail employee sexually assaulted a colleague causing her a “severe psychological harm”.

Julian Tansell, 49 pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault after the victim recorded a “degrading” incident in the signalling box at Evesham Train Station.

Prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court, Ralph Robyns- Landricombe said: “On Wednesday March 22 the victim was visited by her line manager. Alleged at the time by the victim, he approached her, put out his arms, put them around her shoulders and back and put his face close to her. The touching was not consensual. She did not hug the defendant back. He then asked her to sit next to him on the sofa. He shuffled up close to her and said ‘what’s that perfume? You smell good enough to eat.’ He placed his face against her, again the touching was not consensual.”

The court heard the next day the victim went to work with a recording device to record Tansell, of Bishops Avenue, Worcester.

Mr Robyns- Landricombe said: “He approached her from behind and held her close to him. He nuzzled his face into her and said ‘what do you wear? Cor, I could sniff you all day.’ He continued to make inappropriate sexual innuendos.”

A statement from the victim said: “As I stated, this happened nearly two years ago, and I have not been given the opportunity to have closure. I have been living with this every day while the investigation has been going on.”

“When this happened, I had been in an altercation with another member of staff and I was shaken and vulnerable. Tansell saw me in that state and targeted me. I felt used, isolated and prayed upon.”

“I now ask my husband what I look like before leaving the house, I wouldn’t do this before, because I don’t want to invite any comments.”

The statement continued saying the incident has affected the victim’s marriage and her self-esteem.

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Magistrate, Fiona James said: “We have to commend her for what would have been a very difficult document to write. It is clear the offence was aggravated by causing her severe psychological harm. The impact on her was lasting and profound. It was degrading and humiliating.”

Tansell was given a 12-month community order with 250 hours of unpaid work. He will be placed on the sex offenders register for 5 years. He was given a restraining order for 12 months and fined £770 in costs, with an £85 victim surcharge and £1500 in compensation.