Last updated 13:05, Wednesday, 27 August 2008

A MOTHER was forced to take nine weeks off work after being traumatised by an alleged sexual assault on a train, a court has heard.

CLEARED: Liam Campbell

Carlisle Crown Court heard yesterday that the woman boarded a train at Carlisle to return to the Maryport area when Liam Campbell, 21, of Harcourt Street, Workington, launched himself at her, pushing her hands down her top and making lewd comments.

Campbell, who is originally from Barrow, had been among a group of men, many of whom played for Workington Town and Maryport rugby league clubs, who were on the train on Saturday November 10 last year.

The woman spotted him when she boarded the train, noting his white T-shirt and blond highlighted hair.

But when she walked past, Campbell shouted at her and lunged over another seat to grab her.

She added that the train was delayed several times, and the driver had come out of his cabin to see what was causing the delays and commotion.

Campbell has pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual assault, and yesterday saw the first day of his trial.

In his opening statement to the court, prosecuting counsel Mr Phillip Boyd said: “The defendant spotted her.

“He had clearly had too much to drink, he shouted at her and put his hands in her cleavage and touched her breasts.”

Speaking from behind a screen, the mother-of three victim told the court that she had regularly woken up during the night following the alleged incident.

She added that she had suffered from nightmares, and had been forced to take nine weeks off work.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “He was laughing and thought it highly amusing.”

She had been among 24 people out in Carlisle celebrating someone’s 40th birthday, and had drunk a total of four pints of bitter.

However, defence barrister Greg Hoare claimed that Campbell had merely made a roaring noise when she boarded the train, but had not approached her.

He claimed that after that, she and her sister had regularly come back up the train shouting and swearing.

He also said that during this time Mr Campbell and the rugby teams had been sitting quietly.

The trial continues.