A former teacher and social worker has been convicted of sexually assaulting a child.
Pete Murphy, 65, of Old Dover Road in Blackheath, was drunk on a litre-and-a-half of gin when he called a child “very attractive” and “beautiful” before touching their bottom.
Murphy was the secretary of the GMB Union’s Greenwich branch but retired after he was charged with the sexual assault of a child.
Before his work in trade union he was a teacher and a social worker.
Murphy was found guilty of sexual assaulting a child under the age of 13 after a four-day trial. He appeared at Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday (March 26).
Murphy pictured leaving Woolwich Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)Prosecutor Dominic Benthall told the court that Murphy’s offending took place in 2020.
The sexual touching lasted for no more than a second but Murphy made inappropriate comments to the child immediately before the incident, the court heard.
Murphy described himself as a functioning alcoholic at the time of his offending.
Mr Benthall said: “He said he used to drink a litre of spirits a day. On this occasion he had drunk a litre and a half, that little extra may have made the difference.”
Judge Richard Thomas KC said he had no doubt that Murphy’s drinking problem contributed to the offence.
But the judge added: “What you demonstrated was a clear attraction to someone under the age of 13.”
He sentenced Murphy to a two-year community order including a requirement to complete a sexual offender programme.
Judge Thomas also made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) restricting Murphy’s contact with children.
The SHPO also bans Murphy from employment involving contact with children.
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