Wheelchair-bound sex 'pest' admits assault and harassment

Thatcham man became infatuated with woman, court told

WHEELCHAIR-bound Kevin Doe, of Thatcham, who “slapped a woman on the backside” and asked “Will you be my girlfriend?” has pleaded guilty to sexual assault and harassment.

Newbury magistrates heard how the 56-year-old, of Alice Bye Court, became infatuated with the woman and would constantly send her unwanted Facebook messages declaring his love for her.

Phil Kouvaritakis, defending, said that his client had been “extremely lonely” since his wife left him, but realised that he had “stepped over the line” with his actions.

However Helen Waite, prosecuting, said that Mr Doe was an “utter pest” who made the woman’s life “extremely difficult”.

The court heard how Mr Doe, who suffered a stroke which left him paralysed down his left side and unable to walk, repeatedly sent the woman unwanted Facebook messages, one of which said “I love you, I really love you”.

Mrs Waite said that the woman did not reply, but continued to be “plied with constant drip of unwanted messages”.

In one of them, Mr Doe asked: “Will you be my girlfriend?”

Mrs Waite said that on the morning of April 6, things progressed and Mr Doe slapped the woman on her backside.

The court heard that he later sent her a message on Facebook saying he was “sorry” he did it.

Mrs Waite added: “The messages went on and on, making her life extremely difficult.”

When questioned by police, Mr Doe gave a prepared statement in which he said he had no recollection of assault, claiming that he suffered short-term memory loss.

However, he later admitted he remembered sending the Facebook messages when shown.

Defending, Mr Kouvaritakis said: “He knows what he did stepped over the line. In 2009, he suffered a stroke which left him hospitalised and left him entirely paralysed down the left side.

“It ended a 25-year career working in the atomic weapon field. He started out as a production officer and has always been based in Berkshire.

“Two years ago, his wife left him and his life has been extremely lonely since. His father also died a couple of months ago.

“He has gone to an area he should not have gone and has not dealt with it well.”

Mr Doe admitted sexual assault on a female on April 6.

He also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of harassment without violence between March 29 and April 9.

Magistrates ordered pre-sentence reports to be written and bailed Mr Doe to appear at Reading Magistrates Court due to the “complex nature” of the case.