A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting a woman estate agent and a client who went to view a property.
Brendon Murphy, 75, first invited the client into his home, next door to the empty property she had gone to view.
She thought his offer of a cup of tea was a kind gesture and, as the agent had not yet turned up, accepted his invitation.
However, once inside, he blocked her way out and stroked the woman’s face.
When the estate agent rang the client to find out where she was, she too was invited in.
Murphy than touched her breast, Luton Crown Court heard.
The court was told that both women were scared during the incident, which happened in Kempston, Bedfordshire, in February last year.
When they left to go into the empty house next door, Murphy followed them into it, and touched the face of the agent.
Judge Nic Madge told Murphy: “She felt really frightened and panicked. She called her office and you then left. Both women were so frightened that they ran to the estate agent’s car and she drove off.”
He added: “The location and the fact that estate agents may be vulnerable in that they have to visit other people’s homes may be aggravating features.”
The judge said a prison sentence would “undoubtedly” be harder for someone of Murphy’s age.
He said he had considered a non-custodial sentence but “the circumstances in which these offences occurred and the fear caused to these women” were so serious that he had no option but to impose an immediate custodial sentence.
Murphy was jailed for nine months and told he would be placed on the sex offenders register.
This is not the first incident and sadly will not be the last. Remember Suzy Lamplugh? PIE has reported other incidents over the years and there is a duty of employers to help protect employees.
Always have a smartphone point of contact scheduled, for arrival and exit of a viewing where there is a potential risk. Leaving a member of staff out for hours with no contact on multiple viewings … are they still safe? Set-up a speed dial to the office which can be activated at a moments notice. Not forgetting valuations and listings are the greatest risk.
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Always a constant worry. Here’s what I wrote about 5 years ago when my own daughter joined the company. Even with safety procedures in place, you can’t alwsys account for other people’s actions & reactions.
https://mariatkempsite.wordpress.com/2013/10/31/a-nightmare-on-real-estate-street/
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