Barber sexually assaulted customers, aged 15

Hristo Georgiev made sexual advances towards two teenage boys in his shop

A "predatory" barber who made advances towards two teenage boys in his shop has been sentenced to two years and three months in jail.

Hristo Georgiev, 26, sexually touched two 15-year-olds over their clothes in separate incidents at Coedpoeth barbershop in Wrexham, Mold Crown Court heard.

Georgiev, who has no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to inciting a 15-year-old boy to engage in sexual activity, and received a sentence of 24 months.

He also admitted two counts of sexual assault on a male, for which he was sentenced to a further three months.

"It's so wrong that parents can't send their children to have a haircut without them being safe from sexual abuse," Judge Niclas Parry said.

Mold Crown Court heard one of the boys was touched in the groin after being told to close his eyes for the application of hairspray.

The second was lured into a back room and propositioned.

Prosecutor Joshua Gorst said Georgiev initiated "a sexually-charged conversation" with the first victim, while he was seated in the chair at the shop this summer.

He started asking about his sexual experiences, and made him feel "extremely uncomfortable",

The teenager disclosed to him that he was only 15.

But following the haircut, Georgiev led him to a secluded area in the shop and posed the question: "Do you want to come in here for your first time?"

Mr Gorst said the teenager later said the approach held an "unmistakable sexual innuendo".

Sexual advances in back room

He left the shop and told his mother, who reported the incident to North Wales Police.

Days later, another 15-year-old boy went into the barbershop.

Georgiev asked him: "Are you horny", before suggesting a sexual act.

He then asked the boy about about pornography, and told the seated teenager to shut his eyes.

The court was told Georgiev applied lemon-scented hairspray on him while placing his a hand on the boy's groin and started suggestive touching over his clothing.

Georgiev then urged the "visibly shocked" 15-year-old to accompany him to the back room where he made further sexual advances.

The teenager fled and was picked up by his father, who also reported the incident to the police.

Predatory behaviour

Maria Masselis, defending Georgiev, told the court her client felt genuine remorse for his actions, which had brought disgrace to himself and his family.

She said Georgiev, who used a Bulgarian interpreter during the sentencing hearing, had been a kitchen porter for three years before migrating to the UK.

The judge told Georgiev: "This behaviour was not only predatory, but the level of risk that you were prepared to take in a public place shows how far you were prepared to go.

"As the persistence of your actions emphasised, you are clearly unable to control yourself."

The attempted sexual offence stopped due to the victim's resistance rather than the defendant's withdrawal, he said.

"The boys would have been hugely embarrassed as well as being upset," the judge said.

"It's to their credit and bravery that they came forward to complain when they would no doubt have preferred that it never happened.

"Their actions may well have protected others from similar conduct in the future."

A 10-year sexual harm prevention order was also imposed, restricting Georgiev from unsupervised contact with any boys under 16 unless certain conditions are met, and requiring him to keep the authorities informed of his whereabouts.