GUILTY verdicts have been handed to a man who inappropriately touched a woman on several occasions in Witney.
Shane Windebank, of Mirfield Road, Witney, was on trial at Oxford Crown Court charged with three counts of sexual assault, all of which took place in 2021.
The 31-year-old father denied the offences, stating his actions were ‘misinterpreted’ or consensual.
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It was heard in court that he had touched the victim’s bottom on several occasions and had even tried to kiss her.
The court also heard how he had flashed his penis in front of her and put her hand on it.
On Monday (May 13), a jury found Windebank guilty of all three counts after retiring to consider their verdicts on Friday.
He will now be sentenced at the same court on Friday, June 14.
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During the trial last week, the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was friends with Windebank’s partner and, on occasions, their children would play together.
However, she told the jury how Windebank had started to touch her breasts and bottom ‘whenever he could’.
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“If he had the opportunity then yes [he would],” she said.
“It could have been everyday….I made it very clear I was absolutely not interested.”
Speaking about the incident where he had tried to kiss her, she said Windebank stopped her bike and sat on the front tyre before trying to kiss her.
It was Windebank’s partner coming over and lightly hitting him over the head which stopped him, the court heard.
The victim also gave evidence about the count which included Windebank getting his penis out in front of her.
“He kept making inappropriate comments,” she said. “He took my hand and put it on his penis.”
When asked if she had touched his penis consensually and told Windebank they ‘need to behave’, which was the defendant’s account of what had happened, the woman said: “No, I remember telling him to leave.
“I remember telling him to leave and I probably did mention that kids were around as it’s not behaviour they should see.”
Windebank’s barrister had also suggested that the victim had been ‘connected’ and ‘flirtatious’ with Windebank.
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However, she denied this, saying: “I would say I was not different with Shane than I was with anyone else, male or female…I was comfortable with us being friends.
“I wouldn’t have seen it as flirting, I would say I was the same with any friend as I was with Shane, male or female.
“If Shane says it was flirting then that’s what he sees.”
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