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Chelsea Pensioner Jailed For Sex Attack

Chelsea Pensioner Jailed For Sex Attack

A Chelsea Pensioner has been jailed for 12 months for sexually abusing a woman in her 20s in his room in the Royal Hospital.

Patrick Teegan, 72, assaulted the woman after attending the closing ceremony of the Chelsea Flower Show in May last year, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

He was wearing his ceremonial red uniform when she came into the hospital's bar and was persuaded to join Teegan and his friends for drinks.

Recorder Jonathan Davies said: "There came a time when she was drunk, so much so that the bar staff were concerned for her, and you said that you would look after her.

"I accept that what you did next was opportunistic, but after you left the bar with her, you took her back to your berth.

"Her evidence was that she made no conscious decision to go back with you."

The next thing she knew, she woke up naked in Teegan's bed to find him rubbing himself against her, the judge added.

Teegan was found guilty last month of assaulting the woman, and will have to go on the Sex Offenders' Register when he is released from prison.

The judge said he took account of Teegan's age, previous good character and the loss of his "prestigious position" as a Chelsea Pensioner.

"But the court cannot ignore the fact that you took sexual advantage of this young woman, and this crosses the custody threshold," he told him.

Paul Hatt, secretary and acting chief executive officer of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, said: "This case has been shocking and distressing for all within the Royal Hospital Chelsea's close-knit community.

"Mr Teegan ceased to be an In-Pensioner of the Royal Hospital when he was convicted of this serious crime.

"Behaviour like his will never be condoned or tolerated."