Prison officer jailed for sexually assaulting four female inmates
A PRISON officer has been jailed for sexually assaulting four female inmates.
Richie Hoy groped inmates while working at HMP Warren Hill
Richie Hoy, 35, groped the women's bottoms after finding them on their own at HMP Warren Hill in Suffolk.
On one occasion he put his hand down one woman's top and touched her breast under her bra.
Ipswich Crown Court heard how the assaults took place over a ten-month period while he was employed at the jail as a prison officer.
Hoy admitted six offences of sexual assault
Hoy admitted six offences of sexual assault and was jailed for 32 weeks.
He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years.
Sentencing him, Judge Martyn Levett, said the defendant had wanted to reassure himself he was still attractive to women following the breakdown of his marriage.
At the hearing on Monday, Lynne Shirley, defending, said the former soldier had been suspended from his job since last year.
Hoy was sentenced to 32 weeks in jail and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register
Miss Shirley said Hoy had been taking medication for anxiety and depression.
He had sought to keep his identity a secret in an attempt to prevent his name, address and personal details becoming public.
A letter to the court from Hoy's father appealed for “a degree of anonymity from the media” because his family were concerned about his health and any possible threats.
But Judge Rupert Overbury refused to grant the anonymity order.