Brandon Parfitt – Norwich

April 2025 – Norwich man spared jail over riverside sexual assault

A man who sexually assaulted a woman after stripping naked has been sentenced, more than five-and-a-half years after the offence.

Brandon Parfitt, 26, groped the woman on a secluded Norwich riverside bench after she spurned his sexual advances.

Norwich Crown Court was told the woman had never met him before the assault and had been fearful for her safety after he grabbed her groin, legs, waist and neck during a night out in August 2019.

Stephen Spence, prosecuting, said he had initially led her to the bench to avoid becoming involved in an argument.

“He then pulled down his trousers and underwear and asked for sex,” said Mr Spence.

“She made it very plain that she wasn’t interested but he proceeded to touch her, leaving her very upset and afraid for her safety.”

Witnesses described Parfitt, of Cedar Road in Norwich, being drunk and acting “weird” earlier in the evening.

After being arrested he admitted “something sexual” had happened but insisted that it had been consensual.

He initially pleaded not guilty but later admitted a charge of sexual assault, days before he was due to stand trial.

Recorder Michael Turner said his initial plea and delays in bringing the case meant his victim had the prospect of giving evidence “hanging over her for years”.

He jailed him for four months, but suspended the sentence for two years after hearing he had been judged to be a “low risk of reoffending”.

He was placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years and ordered to complete an accredited programme, rehabilitation days and to be fitted with an alcohol abstinence monitoring tag.

Andrew Oliver, mitigating, said: “This was an incident that happened a long time ago when he was aged 21.

“He has admitted his wrongdoing and did not make appropriate care and attention to ensure there was consent. He was under the influence of alcohol at the time.”