A mum told of the “endless trauma” her family faced after a stranger sexually attacked her son in a shopping centre.

Michael Brown, 30, cut between her and the seven-year-old boy grabbing his arm and assaulting him, in Ashford’s County Square.

The mother, who cannot be named, said her boy was left traumatised after the attack two years ago. He suffered nightmares of “a man or monster with funny eyes trying to get him,” as the family battle to help him heal.

Brown, who has learning difficulties, was handed a community order at Canterbury Crown Court for sexually assaulting a child under 13, after spending four months on remand.

The mum told the court her son was found “hugging his knees rocking back and forth” after the attack.

“That day he drew a picture of the man on his chalk board on the wall, and punched the wall,” she told the court.

“He has nightmares of a man or monster with funny eyes trying to get him. We will continue to feel angry and guilty that we were unable to stop this happening. We are now left dealing with endless trauma and stress.”

Brown, 28 at the time of the assault, drew up behind the pair obstructing the mum from her son, taking his arm. He then groped the boy over his clothes, leaving him traumatised and crying, then tried leaving the scene. But the furious mother confronted Brown as he stood silent until security guards were alerted.

He argued he was merely moving the infant out of the way and pointed out his learning disabilities. But under caution he would tell police the touching was accidental however, he admitted wrongdoing in police interview, prosecutor Simon Taylor QC explained.

The court heard Brown, of Balfour Road, Dover, suffers Noonan Syndrome and global development delay, and is prone to erratic behaviour.

His barrister told Judge Mark Weekes: “Mr Brown has asked for me to say sorry for what he did.”

“He knows what he did was wrong, that he shouldn’t have done it and that he is going to be punished.”

Brown pleaded guilty before Magistrates last year but failed to surrender to the courts in June. Subsequently he was locked up for four months.

Judge Weekes imposed a three-year community order, a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, 40 rehabilitation days and three months of curfew from 7.30pm - 5am.

The judge said he felt “concern and sympathy” over what was a “distressing and alarming incident” in January 2019.

He warned Brown, of Balfour Road, Dover, that re-offending will likely see him jailed.

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