Drunken man grabbed off-duty barmaid

Judge Beverley Lunt, at Burnley Crown Court, heard how Tyler Townley (25), of Netherby Street, grabbed off-duty barmaid Danielle Jackson in the Cross Keys pub on May 11th, 2015.

Townley was then said to have “messed with her hair and ran his hands up her thigh.”

He then followed her out of the pub and pinned her against her car.

Judge Lunt heard that at an earlier hearing, the prosecution had accepted a guilty plea of common assault. Townley was also in breach of a suspended sentence at the time of the offence.

Mr Dylan Bradshaw (defending) said: “This was drunken, self-indulgent behaviour.

“The fact his hands may have inadvertently strayed to sensitive parts is irrelevant.

“His drinking has contributed to his arrogance and stupidity. He is currently doing an online course for a construction worker’s qualification which demonstrates a desire to work for a living.”

Judge Lunt said she would not trigger the suspended sentence but slammed Townley’s “disgraceful behaviour”.

She said: “Your actions were absolutely disgraceful. The prosecution earlier accepted a guilty plea of battery.

“It is an extraordinarily minor charge the prosecution accepted your plea to. You have apparently now started to grow up.

“If you don’t do these hours of unpaid work then you will be back before me and I will jail you.”

Judge Lunt also made a three-year restraining order forbidding Townley to contact Danielle Jackson.