A shop manager has been charged with a string of sexual offences against women and girls.
Laurence Norris-Ing, 31, denied the allegations when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday).
The defendant is charged with five counts of sexual assault, with five alleged victims coming forward to police.
Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said the complainants allege that Norris-Ing touched them indecently at Sports Direct in Swindon town centre – where he works as the store manager.
He said that three of the females were under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged crimes. The other two females were aged in their early 20s.
Mr Ballinger told District Judge Joanna Dickens that the complainants say they were touched over their clothing and had their bottoms groped.
He added that if convicted, Norris-Ing, of Garnet Crescent, Swindon, could face up to four years of imprisonment – a sentence greater than the magistrates’ court’s powers.
The case was sent to Swindon Crown Court. The defendant will next appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 3 February. He was released on unconditional bail.
The alleged victims in this case have the lifelong right to anonymity. It is an imprisonable criminal offence to share any piece of information that could lead to the identification of the alleged victims.
