A FORMER pub landlord must carry out 80 hours unpaid work after admitting sexually assaulting a woman.After hearing that Tony Gallagher, of Grovesnor Road, Lowestoft, had drunkenly groped his victim's bottom, Judge David Goodin told him: 'Words fail me really - I think they fail you - in terms of this astonishing behaviour towards this woman.

A FORMER pub landlord must carry out 80 hours unpaid work after admitting sexually assaulting a woman.

After hearing that Tony Gallagher, of Grovesnor Road, Lowestoft, had drunkenly groped his victim's bottom, Judge David Goodin told him: 'Words fail me really - I think they fail you - in terms of this astonishing behaviour towards this woman. You have got to learn not to do this.'

Lindsay Cox, prosecuting, had previously told Ipswich Crown Court that Gallagher had gone to the female's home on November 18 last year and walked in uninvited.

Mr Cox said Gallagher put his hands on the fully-clothed woman's rear and told her she had a lovely backside. His behaviour at the time was said to be loud and aggressive.

The 46-year-old was also said to have made a sexual reference towards a man who was on the premises at the time and another woman who was present.

When police arrested Gallagher he denied doing anything wrong. However, the court heard he pleaded guilty to sexual assault on the day of his scheduled trial.

Jude Durr, mitigating, said his client was very, very drunk at the time of the offence. He said: 'This was just an all-day lager frenzy.'

Mr Durr added Gallagher had been firmly put in his place by the woman after he assaulted her and that the incident was completely out of character.

The court heard Gallagher had worked in the pub trade for the past few years and had also been the landlord of the First and Last pub in Lowestoft.

He is now on Job Seeker's Allowance while looking for employment, but hopes to return to pub work.

In addition to the community punishment he received, Gallagher must also pay �250 prosecution costs.