Bum-slap builder branded a 'pervert'

Neal Keeling and Stan Miller

May 15, 2006

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SLAP: Anthony O'Neill.

A LABOURER was jailed for a month and put on the sex offenders register for seven years after he slapped the bottom of an off-duty policewoman.

Anthony O'Neill, 22, was stunned when he was given the sentence. His relatives are furious and say the punishment is over-the-top for, what they say, was a silly joke. They say he has lost his job and been branded "a pervert".

O'Neill, pictured, ended up in trouble while he was drinking in a city centre street at 11am one day in November.

He told a court he thought it would be funny to smack the woman's behind when she bent down near him. Instead, the woman officer produced a police warrant card and arrested him.

O'Neill, of Goredale Avenue, Gorton, admitted sexual assault at Manchester Magistrates' Court. District Judge Paul Richardson told him: "What you did was insulting and demeaning - it was anything but funny."

Jailed

As well as being put on the register, he was jailed for a month but immediately released because he had already spent five weeks in custody.

After he was arrested, O'Neill admitted: "I have done it before. Some women like it, others don't." Outside court, O'Neill claimed he only admitted the sex assault charge because he wanted to be released after being held for 16 hours. He is considering an appeal.

He said: "I should have been sent away because it's taught me a lesson not to smack a woman's bum. But to be put on the sex offenders register is just daft."

'Drink'

O'Neill's mother, Karen, said: "I think it is terrible. People will see that and wonder what on earth has he done, and think it must be very serious. Rapists and serious sex abusers get put on for that long.

"He wouldn't harm anyone. Everyone can get a bit out of hand when they've had a drink."

The sex offenders register was set up in 1997 and holds details of about 29,000 people convicted, cautioned or released from prison for a sexual offence against children or adults.

Convicted sex offenders must register with the police within three days of their conviction or release from prison and failure to do so can result in prison. They must also inform police if they change their name or address.

DO you think the sentence was fair? Have your say.

PLUS: Vote in our Poll of the Day.

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Barbara Garner, Eastourne (15/05/2006 at 08:52)

He is a male chauvinist pig, but I doubt his sentence would have been as severe, and over the top, if his victim had not been a plod. Maybe he'll keep his hands to himself in future.

Colin W, Stockholm (15/05/2006 at 09:07)

Pity the hoodies dont get a good slap!

Ricky G, Whitefield (15/05/2006 at 09:14)

"drinking in a city centre street at 11am one day " says it all!!

A Smith, manchester (15/05/2006 at 09:21)

I've never heard anything as absurd as this story. Police and authorities are allowing paedophiles to live amongst communities, and this man is jailed and made to register as a sex offender for something that men AND women have been doing for centuries. What a joke the judiciary is in this country. No wonder people are losing faith in Britain. Police are 'solving' crimes by going for easy convictions.

alex, manchester (15/05/2006 at 09:31)

this is just plain daft and what a waste of taxpayers money! if he had done it to me i would of slapped him back not arrested him. arrest real criminals not a silly drunk playing a silly prank

H, Manchester (15/05/2006 at 09:41)

I think he deserves it' He apparently does it often and 'some women like it, some women don't'. If he did it to me he'd get a punch, especially since he's such an ugly little troll. He clearly has no respect for women whatsoever. Maybe his outraged mother should have taught him some.

K, Manchester (15/05/2006 at 09:45)

The punishment is fair. What makes men think that it acceptable to go round slapping womens bottoms, I really do not know. Its degrading. Maybe other men will learn from this.

Pamela, Pamela's Palace, Crumpsall (15/05/2006 at 10:03)

I would be extremely angry if somebody slapped my bum if I didn't know them. But this sentence is way over the top. If police action was to be taken, a simple caution would have sufficed in this case. Being placed on the sex offenders register for something like this is ridiculous. A Slap is not the same as a grope which would be sexual assault.

Just think, this law has made all those retired teachers from the past guilty and liable to be placed on the sex-offenders register for daring to use the cane or slipper on people's backsides if this ruling is anything to go by.

Chris, Manchester (15/05/2006 at 10:13)

Biggest joke i've heard all week!

Eddie, Salford (15/05/2006 at 10:20)

What a pathetic waste of police time, court time and tax payers money over something so trivial. The only joke here is the law. What ever happened to the days when a woman would slap a man across the face for such an act.

A Peirpoint, Strangeways (15/05/2006 at 10:33)

Uninsured car driver knocks over a little boy in rochdale and the boy is left in a wheelchair for rest of his life. (no jail sentance).. 2 months later does the same almost killing a lollypop lady. (no jail).

Get a life, a fine would have been enough of say ??500-00. He wouldn't have doen it again.

telsa, wigan (15/05/2006 at 10:37)

I wonder what would have happened if it had been a woman who had slapped a man,absolutely nothing, the Police would have dismissed it out of hand,no pun intended.

Appalled, Salford (15/05/2006 at 10:41)

Though the oaf deserved a good slap on the wrist for what he did, putting him on the sex offenders register just demeans the reasons for it. It was meant for serious sex offenders, not stupid little boys with a childish sense of humour. Also, if an ordinary member of the public had complained, would all this have occurred, and would the Police have dealt with it, or is it because it was "one of their own" and that's why they took it to its conclusion. Just wondering!

Gervaise, Ashton under Lyne (15/05/2006 at 10:41)

He was badly advised (if in fact he was advised) to plead to a sexual assault. If it was a slap and not a grope he should have said it was common assault with no sexual motive. One of the reasons that I believe he was charged with sexual assault is that the WPC name cannot be mentioned.
Still a month in prison only costs the tax payer four thousand pounds!

phil, chester (15/05/2006 at 11:27)

The legal system(ok what legal system )is an absolute joke. serious offenders are let off whilst the easy targets are penalised.At the most he should have been cautioned and fined.How can you penalise him more as the assault was on a police officer as she was in plain clothes and he could not have been aware of that fact.Lastly in this so called democracy there is no justice for the normal man on the street whilst thugs immigrants perverts and mass murderers have their rights protected

Mike, city centre Manchester (15/05/2006 at 11:29)

H of manchester we must have a shared brain my thoughts exactly.

Ady, Wythenshawe (15/05/2006 at 11:40)

Hes an idiot, just look at the overextended brow, i bet hes got scuff marks on his knuckles too.
Maybe a large fine and community work , but im not complaining about what he was given.

gordon, salford (15/05/2006 at 11:46)

Bit of a harsh sentence but I can't help but feel that the purpose was to send a message to all the bum slappers ! I have to agree with Ricky G of Whitefield though "drinking at 11am" he's right - says it all !

Bothered, Manchester (15/05/2006 at 12:15)

A fine or a left hook would have been sufficient. Just another example of PC gone mad. A few more brownie points for the WPC. I wonder how many shes got for actually doing proper police work? As for the people who decide on what sentences are given out. Thats just Russian roulette!!!!

David C, City Centre (15/05/2006 at 12:21)

Sounds like a clear case of police entrapment to me. Good job they don??TMt have courts like this in Italy or you could have half the population locked up. But seriously as a result of this, we will be paying for his time inside and probably now for his unemployment benefits for the rest of his life, as he will lose his job and have little chance of finding a new one.

John, Salford (15/05/2006 at 12:22)

OMG had to read this twice because I couldn't believe it what a joke

Charlotte, Sale (15/05/2006 at 12:27)

To be put on the sex offenders register means you are some sort of sexual predator, rapist or peadophile. I would hardly say a slap on the backside warrants this. Maybe the fact that the 'victim' is a policewoman explains the reason but I still think it is way too harsh. I do not like having my bottom slapped but as annoying as I find it, I still wouldnt want somebody put on the register for this harmless act. Just another bad error of judgement by the justice system. Get real!

Sara, Manchester (15/05/2006 at 12:30)

I think this is extremely out of order. Men and Women had done this for years. If you dont like it then you just either slap the person or tell them where to go. If the woman hadnt been a plod and she had gone to the police they would of probably just told her not to waste police time. He shud of just got a fine. Definately not put on sex offenders register. Its stupid.

jim davidson, mancunia (15/05/2006 at 12:35)

have you seen most of GMP women officers...?? if i was her i'd count herself lucky she got the attention...

towny, Handforth (15/05/2006 at 12:39)

This devalues the sex offenders register. what a joke.

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