Judge defends decision not to jail mum who sexually molested ’10 out of 10 drunk’ female pal
Samantha Bowers escaped jail after being found guilty of groping friend after five-hour boozy night out in Reading, Berks
A MUM who sexually assaulted her best friend moments after being sick and has been spared a jail sentence.
Samantha Bowers and her pal had been downing Stella, Sambuca and Malibu on a five-hour bender in Reading, Berks.
The victim found herself huddled around the toilet being sick when Bowers first touched her.
The pair then slept in the same bed where the mum-of-one "tip-toed" her fingers down the woman's back and in between her legs.
The victim awoke to find Bowers kissing the side of her face while touching her before telling her to "f*** off", Reading Crown Court heard.
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When reporting the ordeal to cops the victim had rated herself "ten out of ten drunk".
The pair had been best friends for 11 years before the molestation in December last year.
Bowers, of Salisbury, Wiltshire collapsed in tears after the jury convicted her on November 3.
She was given a two years suspended prison sentence, 200 hours unpaid work, ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years and carry out 40 days of rehabilitation activity.
Prosecutor Robert Bryan insisted that if Bowers had been male the judge would have 'had the book thrown at her.'
But Judge Paul Dugdale said: "I don't throw the book at anyone. I deal with the facts, adhere to the guidelines and do justice for all parties.
"It makes no difference that you are a woman. Your longstanding mental health problems and personality disorder have probably caused you to behave in the way that you acted.
"You had heart problems and open heart surgery and difficulties at the age of 16. There was the tragic loss of a child in 2008."
The victim told the court: "Throughout the whole process I have felt angry at Sam. It has been frustrating having to go through this for the past year.
"I am pleased she has been found guilty."