Sex assault caught on CCTV

The incident happened in Wrexham

A former Wrexham mayor who admitted indecently assaulting a man in the town centre has been given a conditional discharge for two years.

Local councillor Michael Morris held his head in his hands and came close to tears as magistrates watched a video of the incident on Friday.

The 50-year-old from Bowling Bank, Wrexham was seen approaching a man who was leaning drunk against a shop in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Mr Morris was arrested after being caught on CCTV camera and police were alerted following a tip-off from the security camera operator.

Magistrates were told the defendant had walked over to the man and placed his hand on his groin.

He walked away and did the same again.

His dignity has been punctured completely

John Hughes defending

When arrested he told officers: "I don't know what you mean. I was trying to help him."

Prosecutor Huw Evans said Mr Morris had since accepted what he had done.

"He admitted he had a sexual motivation when he carried out that assault," he said.

"You will see from the video that the victim didn't know what was happening to him.

"He had an awful lot to drink and was completely unaware until police told him what had gone on."

Resigned

Giving a conditional discharge, magistrates said the offence was at the very low end of the scale.

As the assault was on a man over the age of 16 he will not have to sign the sex offenders register.

Since the incident, Mr Morris has been forced to resign from his job.

Defence solicitor John Hughes said Mr Morris has suffered greatly from his actions.

"In six days he has lost everything," he said.

"He has lost his job as a bursar at a school. He held that post for 27 years and enjoyed his work but because of the nature of the offence he had to resign.

"His dignity has been punctured completely."

Mr Morris was mayor of Wrexham from 1995 to 1996 and also worked for the local parish councils.

He will be allowed to continue his work as a local councillor.