Nottingham attacker jailed after sexually assaulting a student on a train

After multiple sexual assaults against women, including a student, in Nottingham, a former serviceman has been jailed.

Clifford Hayes made sure to sit next to women on the train whilst they were alone, including one student who was on her way back to university in Sheffield, where he proceeded to touch them sexually.

The victims have described being “frozen in fear” after the 64-year-old’s actions, and looked for comfort among other women sitting in the carriages.

Hayes, of no fixed address, was arrested two days after assaulting the student on the footbridge of Nottingham railway station, he claimed he was just going to use the toilet.

This was not the first time Hayes behaved in this manner, he had similar offences dated back to 1981 which almost exclusively involved him targeting lone females using the rail system for travel.

Judge Michael Auty KC handed Hayes a 10 year sentence at Nottingham Crown court on the 15th March saying: “It is obvious to anyone looking at this case that you present a severe danger to young women.

“The first victim was travelling from Nottingham to Sheffield and, when you sat next to her, she actually felt sorry for you, which speaks of her quality.

“But then you started to touch her and when she became aware of your true purpose she was horrified. She fled in tears to the sanctuary of another female passenger on that train and this has had a profound effect on her. Much of the same can be said for the second victim who also fled to the sanctuary of another female passenger when you targeted her.”

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For the prosecution, Anthony Cheung, said Hayes boarded his first train in Nottingham at 8:30am and immediately sat next to the first victim. He proceeded to put his coat on his lap whilst touching the young woman.

The victim’s impact statement said the incident made her feel “like a piece of meat” and made her body feel “alien to her”.

The second victim included in her statement that she now finds difficulty using public transport a feels like men on public transports are “a threat.”

Hayes pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and two counts of breaching an order previously imposed in 2010 barring him from using the entirety of the UK railway system.

However, before this trial, Hayes had committed 10 previous offences, which occurred between 1981 and 2019. In mitigation, Rebecca Coleman, said Hayes’ guilty pleas were his mitigating factor.

She said: “Mr Hayes is aware he will receive a significant sentence today. He has never had an intimate relationship except for a two-year marriage later in life.”

According to the mitigation, Hayes has been in contact with Op Nova, a charity supporting veterans in the justice system, since he has been in custody.

His sentence is made of six years in custody and a four year extended licence. Hayes will be able to apply for parole four years into his custodial sentence but will remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Featured image via British Transport Police