A ex-teacher with an 'unhealthy interest in teenage girls' groped a 12-year-old girl after following her around a shop.
Ian Hamilton left his victim, who was alone at the time, in a 'genuine state of fear' when she noticed him 'looking' before approaching her.
The 57-year-old walked behind her saying 'excuse me' - lifting her coat and touching her bottom as he did so, Manchester Crown Court heard.
He then asked if she knew of any takeaways close-by, to which the girl responded saying she wasn't sure, before Hamilton left.
The mother of the victim said her child was left seriously distressed by the incident, Manchester Evening News reports.
Following a trial, Hamilton, of Bury, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault.
Yesterday he was handed a two-year community order with a number of conditions.
The court heard Hamilton has two previous convictions for harassment against girls, aged 16 and 15, both of which took place in 2003, where he again previously received a community punishment.
David Bentley, prosecuting, told the court that on the morning of November 23, 2018, the girl entered the Spar in Whitefield and was looking in the sweet and crisp aisle when she became aware someone was watching her.
“She realised a man was following her whilst she went down a further aisle - she felt he would not stop looking at her,” Mr Bentley said.
“He walked behind her in the sweet aisle and said ‘excuse me’ before he lifted her coat and touched her bottom.
“She was against the wall of the aisle and felt in shock and paranoid.”
Hamilton then made the bizarre comment about a nearby takeaway before leaving the store.
He was tracked down following analysis of the CCTV which showed him getting out cash earlier that morning.
A member of staff previously told a jury that they had seen the man push past the girl and said she looked bewildered and like she wanted to speak to her but ‘didn’t know how’.
In a statement, the girl said there had been a change in her personality to someone who was ‘withdrawn, lacking in self confidence and considering self harm’.
She added that she is receiving support from mental health services.
Hamilton was said to have previous convictions for harassment.
The first took place in June 2003 when Hamilton pulled up outside the house of a 16-year-old girl, and she got into the car assuming it was the taxi she ordered.
“It was the defendant who engaged her in conversation. When she realised it wasn't him she got out but the defendant followed her until she got into the taxi,” the prosecutor said.
“The second offence involved a 15-year-old, wherein the defendant approached her on two separate occasions between June and July 2003, and asked her for directions and engaged in conversation with her saying he had seen her before.
“He then drove off ignoring the directions she had given.”
Hamilton was previously handed a community punishment and 120 hours unpaid work.
Mitigating, Richard English said the conviction had caused ‘great turmoil and strife’ in the family.
“He attended university and qualified as a teacher but resigned in 2003 following his conviction,” he said.
“He has been employed as a stock taker and worked up through the ranks and now is a regional manager.
“There was an extreme delay between when he was arrested and him being charged.”
Sentencing, Recorder Anna Vigars QC said: “It’s obvious that you made her feel uncomfortable by following her around that shop.
“You denied you touched her in this way, or at all. You maintain that denial.”
“You have previous convictions which demonstrate an interest of an unhealthy nature in teen girls.
“It may have been a touch which lasted a second, it may have been over clothing, it may have been on the buttocks and not on the genitals, but I hope you understand how very seriously it has been taken.”
Hamilton, of Thornham Close, was handed a 24 month community order, 10 days of rehabilitation activity requirements, 200 hours unpaid work and was ordered to complete an accredited programme under the probation service.
He must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
