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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Kenny Parker & Charlie Duffield

Mum-of-6 guilty of sex assault for groping male fan at Everton vs Man City match

A Manchester City fan was facing jail, a ban from all football grounds and a possible place on the Sex Offender Register, having been convicted of groping a male Everton fan during a Premier League clash.

Jemma Whiteside, 40, is a mother of six and had been drinking heavily when she grabbed the man's genitals.

She then twerked against his shoulder just before kick-off, saying: "I am going to f him later, and I don't even know his name".

The victim reported the incident to police saying he was "shocked" at being fondled.

When Whiteside was asked about the incident she responded: "No offence to Liverpool but a Scouse man is not something that I would want or need."

Jemma Whiteside a female Manchester City fan is facing jail, a ban from all football grounds and a possible place on the Sex Offender Register (Jemma Whiteside/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

She was convicted of sexual assault after a trial at Sefton magistrates court, with the offence resulting in a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

Her son is in the final year of a scholarship at a Premier League club, and her daughter is undertaking trials at Liverpool FC.

The offence could also lead to being barred from all stadiums in the UK under a Football Banning order.

The incident occurred on February 26 this year, when Whiteside was at Goodison Park to see City beat Everton 1-0.

The victim, who is in his 40s, said: "I was looking out towards the concourse when a female came up behind me, put her hand between my legs and grabbed hold of my testicles. She then shouted 'I am going to f him later, and I don't even know his name'.

"She went one step up of a flight of stairs so she was slightly higher and put her bum on my shoulder and then walked off. I was shocked.

"I walked down and found the police and described what happened shortly after. I described the female and I told him I knew where she was sitting. Her hand had gone between my legs and went up and cupped my testicles.

"She was directly behind me and she then took a step up when she rubbed her bum on my shoulder. I was shocked.

Jemma Whiteside, 40, is a mother of six and had been drinking heavily when she grabbed the man's genitals (Jemma Whiteside/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

PC Mark McGinty who arrested Whiteside in the stands said: "The female was very drunk. You could tell by the way she was behaving in her seat. She was moving her arms about erratically, leaning over the barrier and trying to grab at people below, shouting at them and shouting towards the pitch.

"Her speech was very slurred, she was unsteady on her feet and her eyes were glazed. I was under the impression that she was very drunk."

The court heard the officer had recorded in his statement that Whiteside had been heard saying that she "liked Scouse men".

In a police interview, Whiteside said she had been with friends and was in a very happy and joyous mood, but she denied being drunk and "mortified" at being arrested for sexual assault.

When pressed on whether she said she liked Scouse men, she said. "As a staunch City fan, that is not something I can see myself saying."

"I wouldn't even do this sort of thing to my boyfriend in public. Ask any Man City fan and they will wholeheartedly agree. That is not something I would do. He has taken offence at me, he does not like me. I am a respectable mother and a respectable City fan. I would not behave in a way that would make me be less able to see Man City."

She told the hearing: "If I was walking past I may have brushed past him. It was a football match, it was a crowded place, it is easy to happen, to brush past someone."

Jemma continued to deny saying she was going to "f** him later" (Jemma Whiteside/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

She also continued to deny saying she was going to "f** him later" and added. "I have never said anything like that in my life. I am a mother of six children. When I am not looking after my children, football is the only thing I do."

Finding her guilty of sexual assault, District Judge James Clarke said: "The victim on this occasion said he felt contact - and it was quite an unusual and unexpected type of contact.

"He said in his original statement that he was touched on the buttocks, testicles and the penis. In his evidence, he said only testicles, but it is all part of the intimate area. His response was one of disbelief.

"Clearly the words: 'I will have him later and I don't even know his name', is a curious thing for the victim to misinterpret or invent if that is what is suggested he did.

"In drink, people can and often do things which are very out of character. I am sure the lady had been drinking during the course of the afternoon. She was a lady in high spirits who was hurried by her friends and taking last sips of alcohol in the process.

"The complainant gave a credible account in my assessment. It was not something that could be misunderstood or mistaken. I am not convinced it is something he made up.

"The defendant was a joker, and this is a prank that has gone very badly wrong whilst committed in drink and perhaps showing off to friends on the occasion."

Whiteside was bailed for sentencing next month.

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