Family members cried as the girl admitted she wished she had 'never gone' to the match

An "intimidating" 38-year-old woman will not face jail despite groping a schoolgirl at a stadium.

Morgan Carty clambered over seats at the Emirates Stadium during an Arsenal Women's match to grab a 14-year-old's breast.

The crude sexual assault, caught on CCTV at the stadium, happened as the teenager watched Arsenal vs Aston Villa alongside her 13-year-old cousin on October 15, 2023.

Carty was found guilty of one count of sexual assault against the teenager at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

She was cleared of a second charge in relation to the 14-year-old and two further counts of sexual assault relating to the victim's cousin.

Carty has avoided jail and was given an 18-month community order.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the girl said: "I attended the match with my cousin. I was so excited to watch the game.

"While I was at the stadium a lady came up to us and made the day horrible.

"I felt shocked and frightened. She was very loud and intimidating and I felt very vulnerable."

Noting that she had been revising for her GCSEs at the time, she said the horrific actions of Carty had likely affected her future plans.

"I worked extremely hard at school and I dreamed of attending the University of Cambridge," she said.

"It is hard to think that the actions of another person affected my plans for the future.

"I assumed that we were meant to feel safe around women. That day changed that for me. Sadly, I learned that we were never safe."

Family members cried as the teenager admitted she wished she had "never gone" to the match.

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Carty had been drinking before the game and claimed the victim had been lying.

Francesca Kolar, mitigating for Carty, admitted she was a "complex" person who was dealing with alcohol and mental health issues.

"She has a real sense of shame about what happened. She does take accountability for her actions," she added.

"It is plain that alcohol was the disinhibiting factor in this offence."

Judge Leslie Cuthbert said: "You repeatedly put your coat over her and you put your hand on her breast.

"Instead of immediately admitting to your drunk and unpleasant behaviour, you chose to suggest that the girls were lying, meaning that the victim and her cousin had to give evidence.

Carty will be made to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation.

She has also been hit with a restraining order, requiring her to not contact the victim for three years and pay £500 in prosecution costs.

She will also be mandated to undergo alcohol treatment for three months and has been banned from working with children.