Ex-pub landlord jailed 21 months for sexual assault

A former pub landlord in Newcastle was sentenced to 21 months in prison on Friday after being convicted of sexually assaulting a woman, leaving her curled in a fetal position on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

David Prout, 47, of Bothal Street in Byker, had managed a local pub and held a taxi licence at the time of the incident. Newcastle Crown Court heard that Prout made unwanted advances toward the victim despite her repeated pleas for him to stop. He kissed her against her wishes and groped her chest, reaching beneath her bra. Prosecutor Jessica Slaughter described how Prout ignored the woman's efforts to push him away, forcing her back into a seated position. "He repeatedly put his hand over her mouth and said shhhh," Slaughter told the court. "She tried to run from him but he grabbed her. She was crying hysterically and ended up in a curled position on the floor telling him to leave her alone."

The woman's partner discovered the scene and contacted police. In a victim impact statement, she said the assault has had a long-lasting impact on her day-to-day life, leaving her in emotional turmoil with heightened anxiety and recurring flashbacks.