A FORMER Barry pub manager was this week given a 12 month community order with 100 hours unpaid work, after he was found guilty of sexually touching a staff member.

Peter Davies, formerly manager of the Park Hotel, was sentenced at Cardiff and Vale Magistrates Court on Tuesday (December 18).

The court heard that his conviction on November 28, at the same court, had had a ‘catastrophic effect’ on his life and he had since lost his job, his home and his good reputation.

Lowri Wynn Morgan, in mitigation, said that Davies had had ‘extensive character references’, with ten people coming forward during the trial and more people providing references after his conviction.

She said that he was ‘well regarded by his friends, but also in the community in Barry’.

"That good name has now been tarnished," she added.

"He is 60 and is out of work for the first time in his life.

"He has lost his home as a result of this conviction, he is of poor health and the court doesn’t need to be reminded of the catastrophic effect this conviction has had."

She added that he still did not accept the conviction.

"His position is the same; he still denies the offence. However he is before the court to be sentenced and must face the consequences in that regard," she said.

Davies, of Park Crescent, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of ‘intentionally touching a woman and that the touching was sexual when she did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that she was consenting (contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offence Act 2003)’. The charge related to an incident on April 16, when he was said to have inappropriately touched a former barmaid at the pub.

District Judge Bodfan Jenkins, who presided over the original trial which began on October 10 before a seven week break, said that the offence was ‘aggravated by the breach of trust between employer and employee’.

A 12-month community order was imposed, with supervision, and Davies must complete 100 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim, and £620 towards prosecution costs.

The Judge also issued a restraining order, barring him from making contact with the victim, and he was ordered to sign on to the Sex Offenders Register for five years.