Cambridgeshire shop owner jailed for sexually assaulting volunteer and customer
Michael Bell, 68, was found guilty of seven counts of sexual assault following a trial at Peterborough Crown Court.
A shop owner from Hardwick, South Cambridgeshire, has been jailed for two years after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a volunteer and a customer at his store.
Michael Bell, 68, repeatedly assaulted a female volunteer between March and July 2021.
Over the four-month period, he made inappropriate sexual remarks and touched her inappropriately over clothing on multiple occasions.
The incidents were reported after Bell assaulted a customer on 6 August 2022. The customer reported the inappropriate touching to police, leading to an investigation.
Bell, who lived on High Street, Yelling, St Neots, denied all allegations but was found guilty of seven counts of sexual assault following a trial at Peterborough Crown Court.
Bell was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday (14 November). He received two-year prison terms for each of the offences, to be served concurrently.
As part of his sentencing, Bell was also issued with an indefinite restraining order and must register with the police under the Sexual Offences Act for 10 years.
DC Andy Watters commented on the case, saying: “This type of behaviour should never be tolerated. Women should be able to go to work and go into shops without fear of sexual predators.
“I hope the sentence will reassure both the victims, and women everywhere, that this type of behaviour will never be accepted by police, and should always be challenged and reported.”