An Isle of Wight man kissed a teenage girl on the head and hand while travelling on a bus, and called her a "sexy looking strawberry", a court has heard.

Appearing at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Friday, January 19, Shane Newnham, of Morton Road, Brading, pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a female.

The court heard how, on August 29, 2023, while on a bus to Newport, Newnham sat with a group of teenagers, unknown to him.

Prosecuting, Liz Miller, said he told them to "shut the f**k up", before offering them a bottle of Magnum Tonic Wine.

He turned to one of the teenagers, a 16-year-old girl, and said she was a "sexy looking strawberry".

He then stood up and kissed her on the hand and on the top of her head.

Ms Miller told the court that CCTV from the bus showed Newnham "pulling" her face into his face.

He proceeded to call her "a sexy little woman", she said.

Oscar Vincent, defending, said Newnham, who had an eight year period of abstinence prior to the events of that day, "relapsed" into alcohol after experiencing an "unexpected traumatic event".

He said Newnham doesn't remember the incident and "to his credit", is not disputing what happened.

Newnham put his behaviour down to drink and called his actions "disgusting", "terrible" and very out of character, Mr Vincent said.

The court how heard how Newnham is already suffering the consequences of his actions and has lost contact with his own children.

He has also be banned from the buses and now has to travel on a push bike, Mr Vincent said.

Magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report to be carried out.

Newnham is due to be sentenced at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on February 20.