“Fantasist” was found guilty of sexual assault after judges rejected his “threesome” consent argument

Thomas Farnell, 62, was described as a “fantasist” by a prosecutor at Telford Magistrates Court as it emerged during the trial that he believed the woman wanted to be part of a sexual threesome.

Farnell did not deny that he touched the woman on her left breast, kissed her and once in February 2023 put his hand between her legs.

The court heard he also sexually assaulted the same woman a few days later when he went to her home and touched her in her kitchen as she stood at her sink.

Farnell, of Lonsdale Court, Little Dawley, had pleaded not guilty to both charges and on Friday two women spoke from behind the court screens to give evidence and be cross-examined from the witness box. The bench thanked both witnesses for appearing as witnesses.

“He approached her and out of the blue started touching her breasts and trying to kiss her,” said prosecutor Chris Coughlan.

“She was horrified but didn’t say anything at the time because she just froze,” he said. “She has not said anything about this incident.

“On the 21st he was walking around her house and she thought he would apologize and let him in. She was at the sink filling up some water for the birds and he touched her breasts from behind again.

“He tried to kiss her and she said ‘no, no’.”

The court was told that when Farnell’s wife found out he was thrown out of the house, made homeless and living in his car.

Magistrates were told Farnell had admitted his actions and apologized. He pleaded not guilty because he believed the acts were consensual.

“He admitted it because he thought he was having a threesome. The Crown says it is completely false and a fantasy. He’s a fantasist.”

“The woman did not consent to the attack. It’s about whether she agreed and then it’s up to the judges.”

Bald Farnell, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans and walking with only a cane, was unable to see the two women who appeared in court behind specially erected screens at the morning hearing. Your name cannot be mentioned for legal reasons.

The victim spoke, her voice breaking at times as she described what Farnell had done as he towered over her.