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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Emma Grimshaw

Yate man guilty of groping woman and teenage girl

A Yate man has been found guilty of groping a woman and a teenage girl following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Martin Axford pinned the woman against a wall, pulled her dress down and exposed her bra.

The 51-year-old was cleared of one charge of sexual assault against another teenager.

Axford, of Milton Road, will be sentenced on September 6 for his crimes.

The woman told police: "He pulled the top of my dress down, exposing my bra.

"Then he came towards my face.

"It was just panic.

"Somebody must have then come out and called my name. That's when it stopped."

The victim said, later, Axford claimed it was the woman who pulled her dress down in front of him.

She said a complaint was made to police when it emerged Axford was accused of also groping two teenage girls.

Giving evidence to the jury, Axford admitted exposing one of the 17-year-old's breasts.

He told the court: "It was an absolutely crazy, stupid thing to do.

"It should never have happened on both parts."

Sam Jones, defending, asked him if he was sure of his account.

Axford said: "I'm crystal.

"What I did was wrong.

"It shouldn't have happened, I should not have behaved in that way.

"I did it under the influence but I felt (the girl) was inviting me to.

"I did think she was consenting."

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