A 23-year-old Soudley man convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in Cheltenham has been sentenced to do 100 hours of unpaid work for the community.
Harry Barton of Church Road, Soudley, has also been placed on an 18 month community order with requirements to attend rehabilitation activities.
Cheltenham Magistrates ordered him to register with the police as a sex offender for five years.
He was also ordered to pay £600 costs and a £114 surcharge.
Barton had pleaded not guilty to sexually touching the woman without her consent on 21st December 2024. But he did not attend his trial in March this year and it was therefore conducted in his absence.
He was found guilty and was then brought before the court for sentence.
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