A man who played an Ewok in Star Wars has walked free from court despite being convicted of indecently exposing himself to a teen girl on a train.
Former panto star Nicholas Read has already received some measure of punishment however - a raft of cancellations by people no longer requiring his services.
Read, 40, had made up to £800 a week since the age of 16 appearing in pantomimes.
But as he was handed a suspended 20-week jail term at Leicester Crown Court, defence barrister Nigel Hamilton told the court: "He will not be able to do that anymore - he has had cancellations left, right and centre."
Read was convicted of indecent exposure last month after a 17-year-old girl told Leicester Crown Court how the actor performed a sex act under the cover of a juggler's hat.
He had cornered her on a train but escaped jail despite having previous convictions for sexual offences, including an incident in which he clambered into the bed of a stage manager and his girlfriend.
Pervert Ewok walks free
Pervert ... Nicolas Read
AN actor who played a Star Wars Ewok walked free from court today despite being convicted of indecently exposing himself to a teen on a train.
Former panto star Nicholas Read has already received some measure of punishment however - a raft of cancellations by people no longer requiring his services.
Read, 40, had made up to £800 a week since the age of 16 appearing in pantomimes.
But as he was handed a suspended 20-week jail term, defence barrister Nigel Hamilton told the court: "He will not be able to do that anymore - he has had cancellations left, right and centre."
It is understood Read, who also appeared in Harry Potter, has recently resorted to hiring himself out to stag parties. The role means being handcuffed to the stag while dressed as a Smurf or Oompa-Loompa.
Stag do ... Nicholas Read understood to dress as Oompa-Loompa
Recorder Richard Bond voiced sadness at the actor's current activities and expressed hope he would will be able to stick to "normal" roles in future.
Read - who played an Ewok in Return Of The Jedi - was convicted of indecent exposure last month after a 17-year-old girl told Leicester Crown Court how the actor performed a sex act under the cover of a juggler's hat.
He had cornered her on a train but escaped jail despite having previous convictions for sexual offences, including an incident in which he clambered into the bed of a stage manager and his girlfriend.
They also included a series of "random" and explicit phone calls made to women from a hotel room as long ago as 1995.
Read, Cheadle, north Staffs, was arrested last October after "trapping" his victim in a window seat on a train travelling between London and Leicester.
Describing aspects of Read's latest offence as chilling, the judge told him: "It was obvious that she was extremely scared by what you did to her.
"She was so scared that she couldn't complain immediately for fear that you would touch her."
Inspector Mark Clements, from the British Transport Police, slammed Read for forcing his victim to give evidence against him.
He said: "Read's actions were deplorable. He targeted a young lone female, unable to move from her seat, was too scared to speak, and was paralysed by fear from his actions, worried he may assault her too.
"Read's denial of committing this offence led to his victim having to relive the upsetting ordeal again in court.
"His behaviour was completely unacceptable but the victim reporting the incident straight away enabled police to make a swift arrest."
Sentencing Read, Mr Bond said he had been caught in a dilemma.
He said: "A relatively short sentence of imprisonment will not help you, and it certainly will not protect the public from your fantasies.
"I have had to ask myself this question - is this a case where not just you, but more importantly, the public would benefit from you receiving a short custodial sentence? The answer to that is no."
Read was ordered to undertake a community sex offender group work programme and must be monitored by the Probation Service.
Pervert Ewok walks free | The Sun |News
Former panto star Nicholas Read has already received some measure of punishment however - a raft of cancellations by people no longer requiring his services.
Read, 40, had made up to £800 a week since the age of 16 appearing in pantomimes.
But as he was handed a suspended 20-week jail term at Leicester Crown Court, defence barrister Nigel Hamilton told the court: "He will not be able to do that anymore - he has had cancellations left, right and centre."
Read was convicted of indecent exposure last month after a 17-year-old girl told Leicester Crown Court how the actor performed a sex act under the cover of a juggler's hat.
He had cornered her on a train but escaped jail despite having previous convictions for sexual offences, including an incident in which he clambered into the bed of a stage manager and his girlfriend.
Pervert Ewok walks free
Pervert ... Nicolas Read
AN actor who played a Star Wars Ewok walked free from court today despite being convicted of indecently exposing himself to a teen on a train.
Former panto star Nicholas Read has already received some measure of punishment however - a raft of cancellations by people no longer requiring his services.
Read, 40, had made up to £800 a week since the age of 16 appearing in pantomimes.
But as he was handed a suspended 20-week jail term, defence barrister Nigel Hamilton told the court: "He will not be able to do that anymore - he has had cancellations left, right and centre."
It is understood Read, who also appeared in Harry Potter, has recently resorted to hiring himself out to stag parties. The role means being handcuffed to the stag while dressed as a Smurf or Oompa-Loompa.
Stag do ... Nicholas Read understood to dress as Oompa-Loompa
Recorder Richard Bond voiced sadness at the actor's current activities and expressed hope he would will be able to stick to "normal" roles in future.
Read - who played an Ewok in Return Of The Jedi - was convicted of indecent exposure last month after a 17-year-old girl told Leicester Crown Court how the actor performed a sex act under the cover of a juggler's hat.
He had cornered her on a train but escaped jail despite having previous convictions for sexual offences, including an incident in which he clambered into the bed of a stage manager and his girlfriend.
They also included a series of "random" and explicit phone calls made to women from a hotel room as long ago as 1995.
Read, Cheadle, north Staffs, was arrested last October after "trapping" his victim in a window seat on a train travelling between London and Leicester.
Describing aspects of Read's latest offence as chilling, the judge told him: "It was obvious that she was extremely scared by what you did to her.
"She was so scared that she couldn't complain immediately for fear that you would touch her."
Inspector Mark Clements, from the British Transport Police, slammed Read for forcing his victim to give evidence against him.
He said: "Read's actions were deplorable. He targeted a young lone female, unable to move from her seat, was too scared to speak, and was paralysed by fear from his actions, worried he may assault her too.
"Read's denial of committing this offence led to his victim having to relive the upsetting ordeal again in court.
"His behaviour was completely unacceptable but the victim reporting the incident straight away enabled police to make a swift arrest."
Sentencing Read, Mr Bond said he had been caught in a dilemma.
He said: "A relatively short sentence of imprisonment will not help you, and it certainly will not protect the public from your fantasies.
"I have had to ask myself this question - is this a case where not just you, but more importantly, the public would benefit from you receiving a short custodial sentence? The answer to that is no."
Read was ordered to undertake a community sex offender group work programme and must be monitored by the Probation Service.
Pervert Ewok walks free | The Sun |News
