Bristol juror sex attacker handed supervision order
Bristol Crown Court was told former soldier Alan Edwards had a history of mental health problems and had got himself excused from a child abuse case, only to serve as a juror in the trial of a sex assault on a teenage girl.
On the third day, suffering from "persecutionary delusions", he went to a city centre law firm and molested the receptionist when he was not in control of his actions.
Edwards, aged 58, of Portway, Shirehampton, pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in July last year, by reason of insanity.
A jury of seven men and five women unanimously returned a verdict that coincided with his plea.
Judge Simon Darwall-Smith said he "entirely agreed" with a recommendation to give Edwards the order. Edwards was told to sign on the Sex Offender's Register for five years.
Outside court Edwards, who was called for jury service again, seven years after being troubled as a juror previously, told the Bristol Evening Post: "When I was called again the first case I was on was a paedophilia case and they excused me.
"In the second case I thought I would be ok, but when I questioned it they said it was just the luck of the drawer. I think it should be done on a fairer basis."
The receptionist told the jury a man arrived at her premises and she thought he seemed to be acting odd.
She told the jury: "I said 'how can I help you?' and he looked at me and said 'Well, I've had a bad day'.
The woman described how the man sat on her desk and started reading company faxes, which she took from him.
When she asked if she could him again, he grabbed her and pulled her towards him.
She said: "He grabbed my hands rather firmly. He pulled me towards him, nuzzled his face in my neck and fondled my bottom with his hands. I started shouting 'No!, No!, Get off!' but he wasn't listening to anything I was saying.
"I got a hand free and as I pulled away he started grabbing between my legs. He was making groaning noises like he was enjoying what he was doing."
The court heard that, very quickly, office staff and clients arrived at the scene and pulled the man away.
The man identified himself as Alan Edwards to police who arrived at the scene, the court heard, but struggled and squealed during his arrest and had to be put in handcuffs and leg restraints and carried to a police van.
Edwards told police he felt as if he had been forced to do something against his will.
Rebecca Bradberry, defending, read a report by consultant psychiatrist Dr Caroline Bradley who noted Edwards suffered a road traffic accident in 1975, while in the army, and suffered a head injury.
Dr Bradley also noted Edwards was treated in a military hospital in 1993, then aged 42, after suffering a psychotic episode for which was successfully medicated.
The court heard Edwards had previously served as a juror in a paedophilia case which had caused him anxiety and odd behaviour.
Dr Bradley said Edwards told her that during his latest jury duty in July last year he had received a 1am phone call and felt someone was trying to get to him.
On the third day, at lunchtime, he thought he was going to be kidnapped and he walked to the law firm, sat down, put his head back and closed his eyes.
He said the next thing he remembered was being restrained on the floor and he had no memory of any offence.
Dr Bradley concluded Edwards was suffering psychotic symptoms, had feelings of being controlled and believed people were out to get him.
She said: "He could not know or control the nature or quality of his actions."
Dr Bradley's conclusion was backed up by consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Tim Amos.
Miss Bradberry told the court: "Mr Edwards is extremely sorry for what happened."
The court heard Edwards had been prescribed medication and his family would be able to recognise tell-tale signs to ensure there was no re-occurrence of difficulties.
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