A WEALTHY Japanese businessman has been heavily fined for sexually assaulting two female members of staff at a Worcester hotel.

Kazuo Nishimura, of Basin Road, Diglis, Worcester, is a director at machine tool giant Yamazaki Mazak, whose European headquarters is at Badgeworth Drive, Warndon.

The 65-year-old admitted two counts of sexual assault when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Matt Dodson, prosecuting, said Nishimura was in the bar at the Diglis House Hotel, Severn Street, Worcester, with three other men on Wednesday, November 25. At about 10.20pm two of the men left the hotel and one went up to his room.

Nishimura, who was staying at the hotel, then made his way over to the female barmaid and grabbed hold of her before touching her bottom with his left hand and using his right hand to cup her breast.

The woman told Nishimura to get away from her and he returned to his room.

The following morning at about 7am Nishimura approached another female member of staff who was preparing breakfast.

As the woman made her way towards the kitchen Nishimura walked alongside her and put his hand on the small of her back.

He pulled the woman around to face him and put his hand on her bottom and touched her breast.

Mr Dodson said: “She was frozen in fear for a few seconds before pushing him away. On both occasions the defendant smiled as he touched the women inappropriately.” Nishimura was arrested on Friday, January 22 and initially told police he had hugged the women in a non-sexual way. He later admitted sexually assaulting them.

Mr Dodson read out a victim impact statement from one of the women which said: “Soon after the incident I was shocked and upset. I couldn’t smile to my customers and I was worried I might see him again.

“In the first two days I was sad and upset, then I became angry. It was difficult going back to work at the hotel, it caused me to be afraid of being alone. I think about it two or three times a day.”

Judith Kenney, defending, said her client was initially too “ashamed and embarrassed” to admit the full facts.

Nishimura was fined £3,400 for the two offences, ordered to pay £1,000 to each victim and £85 in costs.

Passing sentence, chairman of the magistrates Philip Jenkins said: “These offences were not particularly pleasant and caused some distress to these ladies.”

l Your Worcester News was the only member of the media to attend this hearing.