July 27, 2020 9.30 am This story is over 44 months old

Homeless man jailed for sexual assault on teen after drugging her

It happened at Lincoln train station last October
Nathan Budgen, also known as Nathan Smith. | Photo: British Transport Police

A homeless man who sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl after drugging her at Lincoln train station has been jailed.

Nathan Budgen had previously spoken to the victim and her friend and then sat near to them when their train arrived to take them to Retford.

Esther Harrison, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court that while the train was still in the station, Budgen offered the two girls a bottle of wine and then offered the 16-year-old a roll-up cigarette.

Miss Harrison said: “He was quite insistent. The train was still waiting to leave the station and she joined him at the doorway.

“The victim was very nervous. She thought it would calm her.”

Miss Harrison said that Budgen got very close to the girl and after she had a couple of drags of the roll-up he sexually assaulted her.

The girl pulled away and went and sat with her friend but then began to feel ill and realised that there had been something in the roll-up.

“She was shaking. She was struggling to talk and said she felt delusional.

“During the journey the defendant came towards them and was asked what was in the cigarette. He said it was spice. He then grabbed his belongings and moved away.”

The victim and her friend left the train at Retford and were met by another friend. The incident was then reported to police and Budgen was identified and arrested.

Budgen, 25, of no fixed address, denied a charge of sexual assault as a result of the incident on October 12, 2019 but was found guilty following a trial at Lincoln Magistrates.

He was jailed for 16 months and placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

Neil Sands, in mitigation, said that at the time of the incident Budgen was homeless and was making his way to Manchester where he has relatives.

“He was under the influence of spice and alcohol at the time of this. He has been a user of spice for eight years. He didn’t tell them what it was.

“It is his hope and intention when he is released to go to live with his grandmother.”

He said that the girl told Budgen she was 17 and he had not realised she was only 16.