Sex pest jailed

THREE vulnerable Oldham girls had their lives made a misery by the persistent harassment of a man old enough to be their father.

Nigel Rostron (61), acted more like TV’s Benny Hill character, rubbing himself against them and trying to force kisses on them.

Jon Gregg, defending, told Manchester Crown Court his client drank too much and his behaviour had been “boorish and entirely inappropriate”, though doubtless he had regarded it as funny.

He added: “It harks back to the days of Benny Hill. Some people I’m afraid are stuck in that mindset, but times have moved on.”

Rostron, of Lower Lime Road, Oldham had faced a trial after pleading not guilty to sixteen counts of indecent or sexual assault. When one of the victims became too unwell to give evidence, prosecutors accepted a guilty plea to a single harassment charge.

Jailing him for 12 months, Judge Maurice Greene told him: “You persistently harassed these girls and behaved in a manner that made them extremely uncomfortable and utterly miserable.

“They were serious acts against vulnerable young girls, and only immediate custody can be justified.”

Harriet Tighe, prosecuting, said Rostron had pinned one girl down while he forced kisses on her. He pushed another against a wall while trying to do the same.

He told another he could show her a good time and called her a “boring bitch” when she rejected him.

Mr Gregg said that when sober, his client was a very level-headed man, but at the time of the offences he drank too much - something he has now reduced considerably.

The Oldham Chronicle has been asked to confirm that the person in the above article has no connection whatsoever with Nigel Rostron Carpets of Middleton Road, Royton. We are happy do to so.