A man who sexually assaulted a schoolgirl in the street and later slashed the tyres of vehicle in three Keswick car parks has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Carlisle Crown Court heard Roland Armstrong, now 65, was very unwell around the turn of this year due to mental health difficulties.
On October 6, 2021, Armstrong had touched the breast of a 14-year-old schoolgirl wearing uniform in Carlisle while she was with her friends. He had made sexualised remarks after approaching the girl in the street, groped her and, as he walked away, had said: “Don’t report it to the police.”
In an impact statement, the girl spoke of feeling “violated and vulnerable” after the incident with heightened anxiety and feeling nervous about people she didn’t know, particularly older men.
On April 25, Armstrong then committed more crimes, in Keswick, while armed with a Stanley knife which he used to slash the tyres on three vehicles in three different car parks — at Crosthwaite Road, at Booths supermarket and outside the Theatre by the Lake.
“On arrest he openly admitted buying the Stanley knife with the intent of damaging cars he thought were from the Netherlands,” said prosecutor Brendan Burke. At that time Armstrong was under the impression that Dutch adults were immoral and sexually liberal, which he had difficulties with.
When initially brought to court, Armstrong — latterly of Margaret Creighton Gardens, Carlisle — was deemed unfit to enter pleas to charges and even to instruct a solicitor.
But upon being treated by specialists his condition improved and he later admitted sexual assault, three criminal damage charges and illegal possession of a blade in public.
Armstrong attended his sentencing hearing remotely over a video link from a hospital.
“Quite clearly he was seriously unwell,” defence lawyer Jeff Smith told the court. “Equally clearly he is no longer ill.” He added: “The defendant has struggled to come to terms with the offending and struggled to come to terms with what he has done.”
Taking into account what he called a significant body of mitigation, Judge Nicholas Barker passed a 12-month prison sentence. “Because of your health, because of your mitigation and because of the progress that has been made — and that I am fully satisfied will continue to be made — I am satisfied it is appropriate to suspend this sentence (for two years),” said the judge.
Armstrong must complete up to 20 days of rehabilitation work with the probation service. He must also sign the sex offenders’ register and comply with the strict terms of a prevention order, both for 10 years.
