A 38-year-old woman who climbed over seats at Emirates stadium to grope a teenage girl during an Arsenal Women’s match has been spared jail.
Morgan Carty, 38, climbed over two rows of seats to grab a 14-year-old’s breast in October 2023. The sexual assault was caught on CCTV at the stadium.
The teenager had been watching Arsenal Women play Aston Villa with her 13-year-old cousin.
Carty was found guilty of one count of sexual assault against the older girl but cleared of a second charge by a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court. She was also cleared of two counts of sexual assault relating to the victim’s cousin.
Carty avoided jail but was given an 18-month community order.
In a victim impact statement the girl said: ‘I attended the match with my cousin. I was so excited to watch the game.
Morgan Carty, 38, climbed over two rows of seats to grab a fourteen year old’s breast in October 2023
The victim had been watching Arsenal women play Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium with her 13-year-old cousin
‘While I was at the stadium a lady came up to us and made the day horrible.
‘I felt shocked and frightened. She was very loud and intimidating and I felt very vulnerable.’
She said that her grades were affected by what happened and that she had to give evidence while she was revising for her GCSEs.
‘I worked extremely hard at school and I dreamed of attending the University of Cambridge.
‘It is hard to think that the actions of another person affected my plans for the future.
‘I assumed that we were meant to feel safe around women. That day changed that for me. Sadly, I learned that we were never safe.
‘I wish that I had never gone to the match.’
Family members of the teenager, who were in the public gallery, wept as the victim impact statement was read to the court.
The sexual assault was caught on CCTV at Emirates stadium
Carty had been drinking before the game and had later claimed that the victim had been lying.
Francesca Kolar, mitigating for Carty, said: ‘The pre-sentence report highlights that Ms Carty is a complex person. She is grappling with several issues, with alcohol and mental health at the forefront.
‘She has a real sense of shame about what happened. She does take accountability for her actions.
‘It is plain that alcohol was the disinhibiting factor in this offence.’
Judge Leslie Cuthbert said: ‘On 15 October nearly three years ago you attended the Emirates stadium to watch a women’s football match.
‘You were drunk beforehand. You made yourself a nuisance to two young girls aged 13 and 14years of age who were cousins.
‘Regarding the 14-year-old the jury were sure that you intentionally touched her breast and that it was sexual because of its nature.
‘You repeatedly put your coat over her and you put your hand on her breast.
‘Instead of immediately admitting to your drunk and unpleasant behaviour you chose to suggest that the girls were lying, meaning that the victim and her cousin had to give evidence.
‘You sought to shift the blame onto others.’
Carty will have to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of a rehabilitation requirement.
She will also have to undergo alcohol treatment for three months and she will be barred from working with children.
She was given a restraining order which means she will be prevented from contacting the victim for three years and will have to pay £500 in prosecution costs.
