Ex Soldier Sentenced for Sexual Assault at Bowness Nightclub

A former soldier has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a woman at a nightclub in Bowness-on-Windermere, following proceedings at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court.

Lee Slater, 42, from Broadway in Fleetwood, committed the offence on the dancefloor at The Wheelhouse nightclub during a night out. The court heard that the woman had been at the venue for around an hour when the incident occurred. Slater subsequently pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a female and was sentenced on 22 October 2026.

Prosecutor Peter Kelly told the court that Slater grabbed the woman over her clothing while she was dancing. She pushed him away, after which he began apologising. Door staff intervened and restrained Slater until police arrived. CCTV footage shown during the proceedings captured the incident, which lasted only a few seconds. The evidence formed part of the case considered by the court before sentencing.

In a victim impact statement, the woman described the effect the incident had on her confidence and social life. She said she had not been on any further nights out since the assault and had experienced anxiety about going out again. Her statement gave the court an account of the continuing impact of the offence beyond the immediate incident at the nightclub.

The court was told that Slater had previously served in the Army from the age of 16 to 22. His solicitor, Sarangi Supratim, said his client had been drinking heavily and had no recollection of the incident. The defence also said Slater was appalled by what had happened and by its effect on the woman. The court heard that he had sought help from a counsellor and a hypnotherapist to address his drinking.

Magistrates ordered Slater to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and imposed a probation requirement. He was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £114 victim surcharge. The sentence followed his guilty plea, with the court considering the circumstances of the offence and information presented during the proceedings.

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