By Staff Reporter

Last updated 11:45, Thursday, 28 August 2008

A WOMAN who claims a man groped her bosom on a train was “as drunk” and “badly behaved”, a court was told.

Liam Campbell, 21, of Harcourt Street, Workington, is denying a charge of sexual assault.

The woman boarded a train to the Maryport area after a day out drinking with friends for a 40th birthday party in Carlisle in November last year.

Her boyfriend gave evidence in Carlisle Crown Court yesterday to say he had been walking behind her along the train carriage when Campbell shouted, ‘Get your breasts out love’ and jumped out of his seat with outstretched hands lunging at her front. He was unable to see if Campbell touched her, he said.

A passenger on the train, Aaron Travell, told the jury he thought the woman and her boyfriend were as badly behaved as Campbell and the men he was sitting with.

He said: “Their reaction was violent and angry. She was screaming at times.”

At one point a woman on the train stood up and told her to shut up, the court heard.

He said he had not seen the incident but the men had been commenting at other women as they walked past.

Witness Ann-Marie Hill said: “We got on the train. A group of men performed the New Zealand Haka [traditional rugby chant] and I realised they were rugby players.

“When me and my neighbour were walking down the train a man leant across and blocked our way and said, ‘Hello princess, hello darling’.”

She said she was sat with her back to the men, but later heard the woman.

“She was shouting about her bag and then about someone trying to grab her breasts. She was raging. She was sitting on the chair, shaking a bit,” she said.

When asked if the complainant had been drunk, Mrs Hill said, “no more than the men”.

Greg Hoare, defending, said most of the witnesses had been drunk and could not be sure which of the men did what.

The alleged victim’s sister told the jury she had gone back down the train to the men to retrieve the handbag. She said: “He [Campbell] was smirking and winking at us, laughing with his friends. He was waving the bag at us”.

Defence barrister Hoare said she had swung a punch at the man, which she denied, saying she had been reaching for the bag.

The trial continues.