Woman football fan sentenced for sexual assault on a man at a match

A woman football fan who sexually assaulted a man at a match has been sentenced.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that Jemma Whiteside, 40, from Manchester, groped the man at the Everton v Manchester City game at Goodison Park in Liverpool on 26 February 2022.

Ms Whiteside attended the game to support her team, Manchester City. Whilst inside the stadium she sexually assaulted a man in the ground and then made a sexually charged comment towards him. 

The attack was entirely without warning and the parties were not previously known to one another. 

She was arrested and charged with sexual assault but denied it. She was found guilty following a trial at Sefton Magistrates Court on 16 November 2022. 

She was sentenced on 12 December 2022 at Sefton Magistrates Court to a nine-month community order. She must also carry out 15 days of a rehabilitation activity, pay a £200 fine, £400 compensation to the victim, £200 costs and a £95 surcharge. 

Senior Crown Prosecutor Mike O’Kane, of CPS Mersey Cheshire, said: “This man was subjected to an unprovoked and entirely unexpected sexual assault by Ms Whiteside.

“The incident caused both upset and embarrassment to the victim. He further noted in his victim personal statement which was read at the sentencing hearing that ‘it should not matter whether the assault was by a man or a woman, it should be treated the same’. 

“The Crown Prosecution Service would echo that. Men do fall victim to sexual assaults and are entitled to protection under the law.

“The CPS works hard to fairly apply the law, irrespective of the gender of the suspect or victim, and to ensure that offending such as this is robustly prosecuted. 

“The victim in this matter was forced to attend trial and give evidence as Ms Whiteside refused to accept her culpability."