Castleford funeral director’s sex assault shame

A Castleford funeral director sexually assaulted a woman before a funeral service.
Charles Edward Ashton, of Churchfield Lane, in Castleford, after appearing at Leeds Crown Court charged with sexual assault. p303a449Charles Edward Ashton, of Churchfield Lane, in Castleford, after appearing at Leeds Crown Court charged with sexual assault. p303a449
Charles Edward Ashton, of Churchfield Lane, in Castleford, after appearing at Leeds Crown Court charged with sexual assault. p303a449

Charles Edward Ashton, 83, admitted carrying out the assault at a service in August.

Ashton, of Churchfield Lane, appeared before Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Friday where he entered a guilty plea.

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Prosecutor Robert Campbell told the court Ashton, a former director and chairman of Castleford Rugby League Football Club, fondled a woman’s breasts.

Mr Campbell added: “There was a funeral about to take place and they were in a room when the complainant asked the defendant to sit down.

“As she did that he put his arm around her, kissed her on two occasions and fondled her breasts.

“He had also made inappropriate remarks about the size of her breasts.”

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Stephen Swan, mitigating, asked for sentencing to be adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Mr Swan added: “It is entirely out of character for this man who it’s fair to say is devastated about what’s happened.

“I think it’s a measure of him that he is so upset about what’s happened.”

Magistrates adjourned sentencing for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and told Ashton he could face jail for the offence.

Before he left court Ashton told the magistrates: “I am sorry to have troubled you.”

Ashton will be sentenced next month.

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