A FELIXSTOWE man who has been convicted of groping two women was cleared last month of raping and sexually assaulting a schoolgirl, a court has heard.

Jane Hunt

A FELIXSTOWE man who has been convicted of groping two women was cleared last month of raping and sexually assaulting a schoolgirl, a court has heard.

David Clements, 44, had denied sexually assaulting two women during a trial which started last week at Ipswich Crown Court and was yesterday found guilty of the offences by a jury by 10-2 majority verdicts.

The court heard that Clements, of Queens Road, had been jailed for 18 months in 2006 for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and last month was cleared of raping and sexually assaulting another schoolgirl after denying the charges.

Adjourning sentence on the latest offences for three weeks for a probation report Judge David Goodin said Clements had “overstepped proper sexual boundaries” in his conduct with the women.

He said the latest offences combined with his conviction for sexual assault in 2006 caused him concern and said a pre-sentence report would look at all sentencing options.

Last month Clements went on trial at Ipswich Crown Court for four offences of rape, three offences of sexual assault and one of indecent assault in relation to a schoolgirl. Clements denied the offences and was found not guilty of all the charges.

The case could not be reported at the time because of the follow-on trial.

During the latest trial the court heard that while a woman was at a sink helping Clements wash up, he pressed against her and then lifted up her T-shirt and touched her breasts.

He told her he wanted sex but she said no and carried on washing up.

When they went into the living room he had pulled down her tracksuit bottoms and underwear and invited her to have sex.

The woman said no and left.

In relation to the other woman Clements had looked down her top at her breasts and cleavage and said “it's a nice view from up here”.

Although he was laughing and joking, the woman had felt uncomfortable, the court heard.

He had then exposed her bra and touched her breasts over her clothing despite her protests for him to get off her.

Giving evidence Clements had denied touching the women indecently.

Clements was remanded in custody and will be sentenced the week commencing June 29.