Predator 'smiled' while assaulting young women walking to university, trial hears

An alleged predator 'smirked' and 'laughed' as he pounced on young women walking to school and university, jurors were told.

Prosecutors claim victims ran away 'terrified' from Robert Emmerson, 40, as he exposed himself to eight women and grabbed five from behind before sexually assaulting them. The court heard victims described Emmerson 'smiling' and 'enjoying himself' as he attacked the women in a 'bear hug' before pinning them to the ground and groping them.

Emmerson allegedly attacked most of his complainants in the underpass beneath the Mancunian Way as they walked to or back from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) during 'daylight hours'. He also allegedly exposed himself to two schoolgirls in the Wythenshawe area. Emmerson denies all charges.

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Opening the trial on Monday (October 14), prosecutor Emma Kehoe KC said that between November 2023 and April 2024 there were a number of 'linked' sexual offences committed in the underpass 'near the university'.

She told jurors how the allegations were brought to the attention of Greater Manchester Police by a series of victim reports which formed a 'pattern'.

"How the attacker would lie in wait on the path and how the attacker would masturbate or touch his genitals, or in some cases grabbing them [complainants] in a bear hug and pulling them to the floor with his penis up against them," she said. "In some cases he groped their vaginas through clothing."

Ms Kehoe told jurors how multiple victims described the male as 'laughing', 'smiling', and 'making noises to suggest he was enjoying himself' as they screamed while he 'pinned them down' or 'lifted them up' and touched them sexually. All the victims were able to run away and reported the incident to the police, the court heard.

The court heard how Emmerson was eventually tracked down by police after the 'quick reports' of two alleged assaults on April 15, 2024. Officers were able to use CCTV to trace Emmerson's movements, and he was arrested on April 22 at his ex-partner's house in Wythenshawe. Two offences involving schoolgirls are alleged to have taken place near to this address.

Five victims positively identified Emmerson from an ID parade, the court heard. Jurors were also told a red raincoat which one victim described him as wearing was recovered from his home address.

"The defendant intends to say that he is not the person responsible for the attacks," Ms Kehoe said. "The prosecution say that the totality of the evidence should leave you in no doubt that the defendant in the dock is the man who exposed himself to and attacked all of those young women in the case."

Emmerson, of Lancaster Court, Manchester, is represented by Joshua Bowker.

The trial continues.