A MAN was spared jail after he 'humiliated' a young mum by pulling down her trousers and underwear in a subway as she pushed her two young children in a pram.

Alexandru Ghiba, aged 24, was sentenced for sexual assault at Bolton Crown Court today.

He was found guilty following a trial last month of committing the offence in the subway under St Peter's Way in Kearsley on July 5 last year.

The young woman was pushing her three-year-old son and three-week-old baby in a buggy.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson, told the court that as she came up to the subway Gibha, of Fairfield Road in Farnworth, came up behind her and pulled down her trousers and underwear.

Judge Clayson added that Ghiba then ran off before turning back towards his victim and making an offensive gesture towards her.

The judge added: "She was very upset. Her victim personal statement indicated how she felt degraded and violated.

"I'm sure your motivation was to upset and humiliate her in a public setting."

He added that the situation was aggravated by the fact that the victim's young children were with her when the assault took place.

Sara Haque, prosecuting, told the court how the victim is still feeling the impact of the incident.

She said: "She has still not walked the same way with her children.

"She tends to use public transport. Her now four-year-old son still feels the impact."

However, judge Clayson said that it helped Ghiba's situation that he was of previous good character and that he was a working man.

Ghiba, who is originally from Romania and appeared in court with a translator, was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to obey a curfew to be at home home address between 8pm and 6am for three months.

He must also complete a rehabilitation order and inform police of his whereabouts for the next ten years.

Ghiba had originally gone on trial for the offence last year but a jury was unable to reach a verdict, leading to a retrial.

A video played to the jury in the first trial in December 2016 

Judge Clayson told Ghiba: "Let me explain something to you very clearly.

"If you commit some other offence in the next two years or fail to attend of your appointments then you will be in breach of the suspended sentence. You will then face the custodial sentence."