A MAN who squeezed a woman’s bottom as she made her way to work in Newport has been hit with a £665 bill.

Raid Kassim Said, 25, pleaded guilty to sexual assault after he fondled his victim in the morning attack in October.

Prosecutor Rob Simpkins told Newport Magistrates’ Court how the woman was left “shaken and feeling scared and fearful something like this could happen again”.

After she made her complaint to the police, they trawled through CCTV footage, a still image of the suspect was circulated to officers and Said was recognised.

The film of the incident was played to the court. Said did not know the woman.

When he was arrested, the defendant told detectives he had drank a “vast amount of alcohol” the night before the assault.

It was also said that he thought he was “flirting” and “used to do it to girls in school as a joke”.

The court heard that the defendant, a university graduate who is a warehouse worker, from Alice Street, Newport, had no previous convictions.

Darren Bishop, mitigating, said: “Clearly, this lady would have suffered a degree of distress.”

He added: “Through drink and cloudy judgement, he has made a huge mistake.

“He has never tried to avoid responsibility for his actions and he knows that his behaviour is in no way acceptable.”

The author of his pre-sentence report wrote that Said was “extremely remorseful” for what he had initially thought was a “schoolyard prank”.

He said he realised he had been “disrespectful towards women” and had stopped drinking alcohol following his arrest.

Chairman of the magistrates, Mohammad Shijil Miah, said that because Said was of previous good character, they had decided to fine him £482.

He must also pay his victim £50 compensation, a surcharge of £48 and prosecution costs of £85.

Said will not have to register as a sex offender and has 56 days to pay up the money.