A PERVERT who groped a mother in front of her child in broad daylight walked free from court.

Hawkar Shwani approached a woman in Boots and made a sexual comment to her before fleeing the scene.

He then crossed the road to Tesco in Pinchington Lane, Newbury, where he reached out and touched a woman over her clothes as her young child watched on.

The 23-year-old admitted two counts of sexual assault on the first day of his trial and was slapped with a suspended sentence order.

Magistrates sitting at Reading Magistrates' Court heard how Shwani, of Fifth Road, Newbury, carried out the shocking attack on April 13.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: "The offences took place between 1pm and 2.30pm when Shwani groped a 21-year-old woman and made a lewd comment to her whilst in Boots at Newbury Retail Park.

"He then left and went across the road to Tesco, where he inappropriately touched a woman over her clothes. The victim was with a young child at the time."

Shwani denied the offences at first but he changed his plea and admitted two counts of sexual assault during his trial on May 9.

He was given a 16-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years.

Police Constable Lucie Chetri added: "Shwani’s actions took place in broad daylight in two busy stores.

"He showed a total disregard for the law and sexually assaulted two women.

“His swift arrest, charge and bail conditions send a clear message that Thames Valley Police will not tolerate such behaviour from anyone.”