A "respected" fireman crept into a 17-year-old girl's bed after a party, a court heard, as he was found guilty of sexually assaulting the teen. Edward Snook, an engaged firefighter, arrived drunk at the girl's home at 4am before asking if he could stay. The girl, who was just 17 at the time, handed him a pillow and blanket to stay on the sofa but went into her bedroom claiming he needed to charge his phone.
Snook, who was 31 at the time, proceeded to get into her bed and stroke her stomach before telling the teen: "You're beautiful - 17 and 30 is not bad." The girl quickly fled the room panic-stricken after he started to touch himself and was said to be "hyperventilating for 20 minutes". The dad-of-two stayed for another two hours before he eventually left at 6am and said: "Thank you for this, hopefully we can do this again.
" He was reported to police when the girl told her family. Snook, now 33, was said to be a 'respected' fireman in the Knutsford area, working for the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, Manchester Evening News reports . But he has since been suspended and is set to lose his job, Crewe Magistrates' Court heard.
Snook was found guilty of sexual assault following a trial. He will be sentenced next month and was warned he faced being locked up for six months under sentencing guidelines. He will also have to sign the sex offenders' register.
Snook admitted going to the girl's house in the hope of having sex with her but denied touching her or behaving sexually. P.