A woman Manchester City fan who got drunk and groped a man Everton fan during a Premier League football match has escaped prison despite urging the court to treat female sexual assaulters the same as men.
Jemma Whiteside, 40, attacked the man shortly before kick-off in February, proclaiming: “I’m going to fuck him later, and I don’t even know his name.”
The mother-of-six denied the allegations, claiming she “wouldn’t even do this sort of thing in public with my boyfriend.” She also said that as a “staunch city fan” she couldn’t see “myself” making that comment to a Scouse man.
Whitehouse was convicted of sexual assault last month and faces up to 10 years in prison. Last week, she was sentenced to nine months community service, 15 days of rehabilitation and ordered to pay a fine, costs and damages to the victim.
Manchester City fan Jemma Whiteside, 40, (pictured) has escaped prison after being convicted of groping an Everton fan during a Premiership clash
Whiteside (pictured) grabbed the man’s genitals shortly before kick-off in February and twerked to his shoulder saying, “I’m going to fuck him later, I don’t even know his name”
The incident took place on February 26 when Whiteside, from Worsley, Greater Manchester, was at Goodison Park to see City beat Everton 1-0.
The victim, who is in his 40s, reported it to police and said he was “shocked” when an “intimate part” of his body was caressed.
PC Mark McGinty who arrested Whiteside in the stands told the court she was ‘very drunk’ as evidenced by her behavior during the match.
“She was moving her arms erratically, leaning over the barrier and trying to grab people below, yell at them and yell at the pitch,” Mr McGinty explained.
Her speech was very slurred, her feet were unsteady and her eyes were glassy. I had the impression she was very drunk.’
The court heard that the officer included in his statement that Whiteside had heard she “liked Scouse men.”
When Whiteside was later asked about the incident, she replied, “As an ardent city fan, I don’t see myself saying that.”
“I wouldn’t even do this kind of thing to my boyfriend in public. Ask any Man City fan and they’ll agree wholeheartedly. That’s not something I would do.
“He has taken offense at me, he doesn’t like me. I am a respectable mother and a respectable City fan. I wouldn’t behave in a way that would reduce my ability to see Man City.’
Whitehouse said at the hearing, “If I walked past him, I might have walked past him.” It was a football game, it was a busy place, it’s easy to pass someone.’
She also continued to deny saying she would “fuck him later,” adding.
‘I’ve never said anything like that in my life. I am a mother of six children. When I’m not taking care of my children, football is all I do.’
The victim – who was “shocked and upset” at being caressed – had argued in a statement: “It shouldn’t matter if the attack was by a man or a woman, it should be treated the same.”
Whiteside, (pictured) whose son is in the final year of a scholarship at a Premiership club and whose daughter is undergoing trials at Liverpool FC, faced up to 10 years in prison after being convicted of assault last month
Whiteside, whose son is in the final year of a scholarship at a Premiership club and whose daughter is trialling at Liverpool FC, faced up to 10 years in prison after being convicted of assault last month.
But she was sentenced last week to nine months of community service and must also complete 15 days of rehabilitation.
She was further fined a £200 fine with £295 costs for and had to pay the victim £400 in damages after a judge said that people ‘who are drunk can and often do things that are very unusual’.
District Judge James Clarke found her guilty of assault, saying the victim felt “quite an unusual and unexpected kind of contact” and argued that his complaint was “not something that could be misunderstood or misunderstood.”
Obviously the words, “I’ll have him later and I don’t even know his name,” is a curious thing for the victim to misinterpret or make up if that’s what it’s implied he did.
‘When it comes to drinking, people often can and do things that don’t suit their character. I’m sure the lady had been drinking during the afternoon.
“She was a cheerful lady who was hounded by her friends, drinking the last sips of alcohol.”
The judge added: ‘The complainant has given a credible account of my assessment. It was not something that could be misunderstood or misunderstood. I’m not convinced it’s something he made up.
“The defendant was a prankster, and this is a prank gone very wrong as he drank and perhaps showed off to friends on the occasion.”
Whiteside (pictured) was sentenced last week to nine months community service and she must also complete 15 days of rehabilitation. She was further fined a £200 fine with £295 costs and ordered to pay the victim £400 in damages after a judge said people ‘when under the influence of drink can and often do things that are very off be their character
When Whiteside (pictured) was asked about the incident, she replied: ‘As a loyal city fan, I don’t see myself saying that.’ “I wouldn’t even do this kind of thing to my boyfriend in public. Ask any Man City fan and they’ll agree wholeheartedly. That’s not something I would do’
After the case, Chief Prosecutor Mike O’Kane of CPS Mersey Cheshire said: ‘This man was the victim of an unprovoked and wholly unexpected assault by Mrs Whiteside.
The incident caused both consternation and embarrassment for the victim. He further noted in his victim’s personal statement, which was read at the sentencing hearing, that “it shouldn’t matter whether the assault was by a man or a woman, it should be treated the same.”
The public prosecutor would confirm that. Men do become victims of sexual violence and are entitled to protection under the law.
“The CPS works hard to apply the law fairly, regardless of the gender of the suspect or victim, and to ensure that such violations are vigorously prosecuted.
“The victim in this case was forced to attend the trial and testify as Mrs Whiteside refused to accept her guilt.”