A DRUNKEN man who stroked the bum of a shop assistant has been rebuked by a judge for his ‘deplorable behaviour’.

Paul Mellor, of South Oak Lane, Wilmslow, appeared at Warrington Magistrates Court on Monday, October 31.

The 60-year-old was charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a Wilmslow convenience store on April 1, this year.

The defendant was also accused of using violence to force his way into the Wilmslow home of another woman, in a separate incident, on April 29, this year.

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Mellor changed his plea to guilty to both incidents on September 28, the first day the case had been set for a trial.

Prosecuting, Laura Simpson told the court that the defendant had walked into a convenience store in Wilmslow on April 9.

The victim, a female shop assistant, recognised him as ‘a frequent customer’ who had been coming into the store for five to six years.

Mellor was described as ‘very loud’ as he walked down the aisle and ‘used his hand’ to stroke her bum for two to three seconds.

“The defendant shouted: ‘You know I love you’ and thought it was a joke,” said Ms Simpson.

On April 29, Mellor banged on the door of at the home of another Wilmslow woman at 4.20am and asked to go inside.

He was shouting, the court heard, and was ‘under the influence of drugs or drink’.

Mellor was refused entry but went in through a back door and stormed into the kitchen.

The defendant was asked to leave on numerous occasions but pushed past the woman.

Mellor has 34 convictions for 17 offences between 1973 and April this year, the court was told.

Mark Lever, defending his client's sexual assault charge, said: “He had an outdated attitude towards this type of sexual behaviour, which may have been acceptable 40 years ago.

“He has since reflected on his behaviour.

“He has started to sort his life out and wants to carry on working.”

Mellor hopes to find work as a painter and decorator, the court was told.

Mr Lever said: “He has cut down on his alcohol consumption and been compliant with all the requirements of the Probation Service.

“He has been subject to a tag and curfew since May 5.”

Sentencing him, District Judge James Clarke said: “Your behaviour was particularly despicable, largely due to drink.”

Mellor was given a community order for 18 months and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

The defendant was also ordered to pay £600 compensation to the shop assistant and £100 to the woman whose home he used violence to break into.

Mellor must pay £150 victim surcharge and £150 costs.

He is barred from entering the Wilmslow shop where he sexually assaulted an assistant.

Mellor must also stay away from an exclusion zone surrounding the Wilmslow home of the woman he forced his way into. 

The £1,000 court penalty will be deducted from his benefit at a rate of £20 per month, but once he resumes work, he will be expected to pay off the debt more quickly.