A teenager who sexually assaulted a woman in the middle of Bolton town centre says he cannot explain why he did it.

Mohammed Alshami pursued the woman down a back street off Baldwin Street and placed his hands underneath her clothes.

Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court heard he was detained at the scene.

Nichola Dunkerley, prosecuting, said: “This incident goes back to March this year.

“The defendant was following a woman down the road.

“They went on a back street near the university area and he approached her.

“He put his hand up her skirt and touched her on the thigh and bottom area.

“She shouted for help.

“The defendant then ran off at that point.

“She shouted to a passer by to stop the defendant.

“A nearby man detained him and called 999.

“They waited until the police arrived.”

In a victim impact statement the woman said: “It shook me up.

“It upset me to the point that I am shaking even thinking about it.

“I can still feel his hand on me now.

“Right now I am upset and I can’t explain how this incident has made me feel.”

Alshami, of Willows Lane, Bolton, appeared in court to be sentenced after previously admitting sexual assault.

Lucy Astley, defending, said: “He is deeply ashamed by his actions.

“He doesn’t really have an explanation as to why he has done this.

“He was attending Bolton College where he does an ESOL (English as a second or other language) course for asylum seekers.

“He plans to finish the course.”

Ms Astley said he would find it difficult to pay compensation as his family of seven are ineligible for work and live on £260 per week.

She also asked for any community order imposed to be only nine months to avoid him being placed on the sex offenders register.

She said: “It would have a detrimental impact on his life.”

But presiding justice John Vogan rejected this.

He said: “This is very serious and it is concerning you do not recognise why you did this.

“We do not believe we should move from the guidelines or the recommendation of the probation report.”

He imposed a community order to last for two years and order Alshami, 18, to do 30 rehabilitation activity days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

He also placed him on the sex offenders’ register for five years.