A MAN has been jailed for harassing and nuisance behaviour towards women in Brighton.

Jamie Lee Parsons, 31, admitted to causing a public nuisance by making sexual and other offensive and inappropriate comments.

He targeted female supermarket staff, customers, and women in Lewes Road between May and October 2021.

Parsons harassed women who were not known to him, making inappropriate and sexual comments, asking for their personal details and even following some of them. 

This caused the ten identified victims to feel fear and distress, and some felt unsafe leaving their place of work.

He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment and was given a restraining order to last indefinitely. 

It stops him from entering the two shops, loitering outside them, and from contacting or following the women involved.

The Argus: Jamie Lee Parsons, of Lewes Road, BrightonJamie Lee Parsons, of Lewes Road, Brighton

Parsons, of Lewes Road, Brighton, denied sexually assaulting one of the women involved, but her evidence was included in the conviction and sentencing of public nuisance and the separate charge of sexual assault by touching will stay in the court file.

Parsons was arrested following a report made by one of the shops and an investigation by Brighton Neighbourhood Policing.

Officers took detailed accounts from female victims, and from CCTV research, officers traced Parsons who lived nearby, and he was arrested.

An investigation began and police say it became clear that other women had experienced similar approaches but not reported them. 

Police investigations and research lead to further incidents being linked to Parsons.

Parsons initially denied any inappropriate conduct but when faced with CCTV evidence, and identification of him by the victims, he pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance by making sexual and other offensive and inappropriate comments when he appeared at Hove Crown Court on March 1.

Detective Inspector Simon Morgan said: "We will always seek to take action on reports of inappropriate and offensive behaviour towards women and girls, and will do all we can to prosecute offenders and bring them to justice.

"If you are subject to offensive and inappropriate contact and comments in the street or other public places, we can investigate and take action if there is sufficient evidence. Please contact us either online or by calling 101.”