A PERVERTED pensioner was told by the judge that he should be ashamed of himself after he preyed on a vulnerable woman.

Paul Salmon touched the bum of the victim, who cannot and must not be named for legal reasons, before telling her that ‘they could have sex’.

Despite her ‘squirming’ to get away, his predatory behaviour, which was caught on camera, continued.

Salmon, 70, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to sexual assault.

Prosecuting, Megan Cox said how following the incident, Salmon told officers that his behaviour was intended to be a ‘joke’ but he understood it was without consent and that it was sexual harassment.

As well as touching the victim’s bum, Ms Cox said that Salmon tried to tickle the victim under her neck, that he was chasing her around the room and that he made comments such as ‘we can have sex if you want’ and that the pair should ‘go to bed together’.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how the incident left the victim feeling ‘horrible’.

Victim impact statements revealed how Salmon, of Montrose Close, Fearnhead, ‘100 per cent knew’ of the victim’s vulnerabilities and that he ‘still chose to take advantage of her’.

The court also heard how the woman’s sense of safety and security has been ‘shattered’ and that she has suffered in a number of ways since.

“She did not deserve what happened to her,” one of the statements read.

“The way in which he was handling her is simply awful.”

Defending, Mr Rose said: “He is 70 years old and it is very sad of a man of that age to come before the court for the first time ever in his life.

“He has literacy issues and struggles with reading and writing, but he does understand what he has done and is very remorseful and regretful for his actions.

“He has learned from this incident and knows his actions where wholly inappropriate and they will not be repeated again.”

Before sentencing, Recorder Jeremy Lasker said: “It shows a total lack of respect for her.

“You put your arm around her and you tickled her and it is clear that she squirmed to get away and you persisted.

“You then put one of your hands on her bottom over her trousers and she obviously didn’t like it.

“You should be ashamed of what you did.

“And to an extent, I get the feeling that you did take advantage of her vulnerabilities.”

Salmon was handed a suspended prison sentence of eight months.

He must completed 150 hours of unpaid work, up to 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and is subject to notification requirements for 10 years.

He is also subjected to an indefinite restraining order.