A BROOKES student who sexually assaulted fellow students during Michaelmas term binges was accused of having a ‘sense of entitlement’.

William Chetwynd-Stapylton, 20, carried out the assaults at student halls on James Wolfe Road, off Hollow Way, in September and November 2020.

He had denied the assaults but was found guilty at Oxford Magistrates’ Court last month of two counts of sexual assault by touching.

Sentencing the blond-haired student on Thursday, District Judge Kamlesh Rana said: “You heard my findings when I found you guilty of these two offences.

“I found they were nasty, vicious offences involving your sense of entitlement to handle or deal with young women in the way you consider appropriate, which was wholly inappropriate in the circumstances.

“It is aggravated by the fact you were in drink. I do not find you were deliberately getting these young ladies drunk in order to assault them.

“I find you were stupid [and] naïve.”

Imposing a two-year community order, the judge said: “It’s my view that a community order will be the wake-up call you need to ensure this sort of behaviour or offending will never happen again.”

As part of the community order, Chetwynd-Stapylton, who works as a barman during term-time and at a sailing club in the holidays, must abide by a nine month alcohol treatment order under the supervision of addiction charity Turning Point. He was ordered to complete 40 days’ worth of probation service rehabilitation sessions.

He will automatically have to register as a sex offender for five years.

Speaking after the hearing, one of the victims said of young male students like the defendant: “They need to learn to respect women and they need to understand that justice will be served.”

The judge ordered Chetwynd-Stapylton pay £200 in compensation to each of the two victims. “There is no monetary sum that can compensate them for the invasion to their privacy, their personal protection and personal space as a result of the behaviour I found you guilty of.”

He must pay £300 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £95.

A spokeswoman for Oxford Brookes University said: “We wish to make clear that sexual violence and harassment has no place at Oxford Brookes.

“The safety and welfare of our students is paramount. Our priority is to ensure that any victims get the help and support they need  and to investigate and take appropriate action when we receive reports of sexual misconduct, harassment or abuse.

“We cannot comment on individual cases, but cases such as these will be investigated in line with our disciplinary processes.”

Earlier this year, the Oxford Mail revealed that the Headington-based university received 63 reports of sexual assaults between 2017 and 2021. At least one allegation of rape had been reported in each academic year during the same period.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward