Chip shop owner sentenced over 'despicable' assaults

The court heard Theo Tsiolas is in the process of selling the Jolly Fryer

A chip shop owner who carried out "despicable" sexual assaults in Nottinghamshire has been sentenced.

Theo Tsiolas, who owns the Jolly Fryer in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, degraded and humiliated seven victims over a two-year period, a judge said.

The 42-year-old, of Rockcliffe Grange in Mansfield, admitted 10 counts of sexual assault days after a trial started in July.

He was handed an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years, after a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

Tsiolas must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work, up to 30 days of rehabilitation, pay £500 compensation to each of his victims, and will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

'Embarrassed and ashamed'

The court heard the offences took place over a two-year period against the victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Dawn Pritchard, prosecuting, said one female victim reported the defendant was "fixated with bottoms", while another said he would sing "inappropriate" sexual songs to her.

Another victim said he "frequently grabbed her buttocks", while another said that when she was "telling him to pack it in, that didn't deter him".

Tsiolas was arrested and interviewed in September 2021 after one of the victims reported his behaviour to the police.

Ms Pritchard said: "It became clear that he had behaved in this way to a number of young people."

Victim impact statements detailed the effect of Tsiolas' actions, reporting feelings of shame and embarrassment.

Tsiolas was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday

Bunty Batra, defending, said his client "appears to be genuinely remorseful for what he has done", adding he is selling the chip shop and planning to move from his family home due to threats made on social media.

"He takes responsibility for what he has done," he said.

"He is sorry, embarrassed and ashamed."

Judge Michael Auty KC, sentencing, said the defendant's "despicable behaviour" had caused his victims to "suffer egregiously".

"You made a number of vile, lewd and wholly inappropriate comments towards them," he said.

"They should never have been subjected to the vile abuse that you foisted upon them."

Judge Auty said while Tsiolas did eventually plead guilty, a jury had already been sworn in for a trial, which came nearly four years after he was initially arrested.

"You didn't have the courage to admit it when you were interviewed by the police, and in effect accused [the victims] of being liars, which will only have added to their distress," he said.

"You chose to humiliate and degrade these young people."

Following the sentencing, Det Con Gemma Ryback, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Tsiolas' behaviour towards the seven victims was extremely unacceptable and had a significant impact on each of them.

"To compound their suffering, he spent years insisting his behaviour was merely 'banter' and that he was innocent of sexual offending.

"This greatly prolonged the criminal justice process and I'd like to pay tribute to the fortitude shown by the victims, who supported the case through many adjournments at court."