A 38-year-old woman has been spared jail after climbing over seats at Emirates Stadium to grope a teenage girl during an Arsenal Women's match in October 2023. Morgan Carty was found guilty of one count of sexual assault.
The incident occurred while the 14-year-old victim was watching Arsenal Women play Aston Villa with her 13-year-old cousin. The sexual assault, which involved Carty grabbing the teenager's breast, was captured on CCTV. Carty was cleared by a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court of a second charge related to the victim's cousin, and two counts of sexual assault against the cousin.
Carty was sentenced to an 18-month community order, including 120 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation. She must also undergo three months of alcohol treatment and is barred from working with children. A restraining order prohibits her from contacting the victim for three years, and she was ordered to pay £500 in prosecution costs.
In a victim impact statement, the teenager described feeling shocked, frightened, and vulnerable. She stated that the incident affected her grades and her future plans, including her aspirations to attend the University of Cambridge. "I assumed that we were meant to feel safe around women. That day changed that for me," she told the court. Her family members were visibly emotional as the statement was read.
During the trial, it was noted that Carty had been drinking before the game. Her defense stated that she was grappling with alcohol and mental health issues and expressed shame about her actions, with alcohol being a dis-inhibiting factor. The judge, Leslie Cuthbert, noted that Carty initially suggested the girls were lying, which led to the victim and her cousin having to give evidence.
The judge stated that Carty intentionally touched the 14-year-old's breast and that the nature of the act was sexual. He also pointed out that Carty repeatedly put her coat over the victim and placed her hand on her breast. "Instead of immediately admitting to your drunk and unpleasant behaviour you chose to suggest that the girls were lying," the judge said.