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Man jailed for sexually assaulting sleeping woman
Summary
Thomas Headon, 40, was jailed for nine months after sexually assaulting a sleeping woman in a Dublin hotel on 28 April 2013. The woman had told him she did not want to continue after earlier consensual activity. Headon pressed himself against her, removed her tracksuit bottoms and touched her without consent while she slept. She woke, punched him, shouted "no" and pushed him off the bed, throwing a chair. Headon was charged in August 2022, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and Judge Orla Crowe imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspending the final nine months on strict conditions. The judge noted the woman's clear refusal, the lack of consent, and Headon's remorse. The case highlighted the impact on the victim and the offender's record, which included only a prior traffic offence. The court considered Headon's unblemished record and the victim's long‑term trauma.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man jailed for sexually assaulting sleeping woman. Charges or matters: the offence; sexual assault of the woman in the hotel on April 28, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 2013 Other
- August 2022 Incident
- April 28, 2013 Incident
- 2023-06-13 Publication
Why: The woman said she is an only daughter and she carried a weight with her because she couldn't speak to her mother about what had happened. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the offence; sexual assault of the woman in the hotel on April 28, 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mr Burns urged Judge Crowe to consider not imposing a custodial sentence.
Places mentioned
Topics
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