87-year-old Herefordshire man ‘pinched four-year-old girl’s bottom’ in supermarket

A pensioner from Herefordshire has been found guilty of sexual assault.

87-year-old James Biddle from Leominster was charged by police for sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 years old.

Mr Biddle had been attending his local co-op store in Leominster to conduct some grocery shopping on Saturday 6th April 2024 as part of his usual routine. Whilst in the store, Mr Biddle observed a 4-year-old girl with her parents also shopping in front of him and proceeded to make his way down the aisle, where he came to a stop directly behind them, both with their backs towards him.

Mr Biddle, who is not known to the young girl or the family, then intentionally leant over his mobility chair and pinched the underneath of the bottom of the young girl, over her clothing. With little time to react, the girl started to turn and walk away with her father to leave the aisle, when Mr Biddle, removed the glove from his hand and pinched the young girl once again under her bottom.

The girl notified her parents of what happened, and the police were called.

PC Laura Stobart, officer in the case, investigated the incident and successfully gained a charge after seeking advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.

Following a two-day trial at Worcester Crown Court, the jury unanimously found Mr Biddle guilty of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 years old.

The Judge sentenced him to 3 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, to be placed on the sex offenders register and to pay costs of £500.