Photo: Cable Street, Southport
Crown court heard the woman had been out celebrating at Spiga restaurant in Bold Street in Southport in February.
At around 9pm the party broke up and the woman and her friend decided to carry on drinking at the Fox and Goose pub in Cable Street after her husband agreed to take the woman’s son home.
When they left at around 2am they got into a dark coloured saloon taxi nearby and the alleged victim’s friend was dropped off first.
Geoffery Lowe, prosecuting, said:
“It is alleged that Mr Grassick then got into the back of the cab and put his hands down the front of the victim’s trousers and touched her inappropriately.
“The woman then got out of the taxi and went to her home, where she called the police, her friend, and two taxi companies.”
Mr Lowe said that Grassick maintained that it was she who instigated the physical contact.
Mr Lowe continued:
“Grassick said, she leaned forward to shake his hand and then she started to snog him, it was during this that he put his hands on her legs, but he denied touching her inappropriately and putting his hands down her trousers.
“After the kiss, she left the car and he drove away thinking that nothing untoward had taken place.”
(Proceeding)
Southport taxi driver denies sex assault charge as trial starts today
A Southport man, Ian Grassick will stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court today where he will plead not guilty to subjecting a woman to a sex attack in Southport town centre, Wednesday 22 July.
Grassick, 59, of Staveley Road, is accused of sexually assaulting a 30-year-old woman after she got in the back of a vehicle she thought was a taxi.
The woman and her friend are believed to have got into the car after leaving the Fox and Goose pub on Cable Street in the resort at about 2.05am on Wednesday, February 4.
She was allegedly assaulted after the friend had been dropped off at her home.
Grassick last appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, June 9, where he pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
A two-day trial is set to begin today (Wednesday, July 22).
After his last appearance, Grassick was released on conditional bail.
He was ordered by a judge not to approach his alleged victim and was also told to abide by the terms of a curfew.
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