Transgender girl who groped a male resort employee when he helped carry containers and ironing board to her room is spared jail – regardless of begging to be despatched to jail

A transgender woman who sexually assaulted a male hotel worker after she asked him to move boxes for her has been spared jail – despite making a dramatic courtroom plea to be sent to prison. 

Chandi Shende, 45, groped the victim’s private parts over his clothing when he agreed to help carry the items as well as an ironing board into her room last summer.

The man, whose identity has been protected, fled the scene and later said he had been left ‘traumatised’ by the incident.

At Liverpool Magistrates Court, Shende denied sexual assault but was convicted following a trial. 

She was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 25 days of rehabilitation activity and 150 hours of unpaid work. 

She will also be signed onto the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years and was issued a two year restraining order banning her from contacting the victim. 

Asked if she understood everything that had been said, Shende replied: ‘I sometimes wonder whether going to prison is better. It keeps me away from interacting with the world. 

In a statement to police the victim said: ‘I have been withdrawn, feeling isolated and anxious. 

Chandi Shende, 45 (pictured), sexually assaulted a male hotel worker but has been spared jail 

‘I now am fearful walking down the street. It has been hard to eat and sleep, to the point that I’ve lost weight. 

‘I question if there was anything I should have done to stop it from happening. I became angry with myself. 

‘I should not have allowed it to happen. Coming home from work later at night I become fearful and feel I am being followed or something is going to happen to me.’ 

The court also heard how the victim said he felt ‘dirty’ and couldn’t shower properly, and that after the attack his relationship was affected and he does not like to be touched. 

He was forced to take time off work and has since lost wages and income.  

Inquiries revealed Shende, of Liverpool, who was born a man, had a previous conviction from 2023 for making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children. 

She had also engaged in ‘lewd chats’ with men over WhatsApp. She cited ‘gender identity issues’ for her offending. 

‘When I interact with the world it gets difficult for me to manage my mental health. 

‘I know that my lawyer would say that what I am trying to say is crazy. I have got better and better but it just takes so much hard work on my behalf to work on my crazy mind.’ 

The incident occurred on June 14, 2025, after Shende had become a resident guest at the hotel in Liverpool. 

Mark Baker, prosecuting, said: ‘The victim works at the hotel and the defendant asked him if he could help move some boxes in the room.  

‘The victim agreed but a short time afterwards while moving an ironing board she touched the victim’s penis over clothing. 

‘The victim pushed her hand away, felt uncomfortable, and described that to the defendant at the time. He quickly left the room and told a manager.’ 

Shende was also given a ten year sexual harm prevention order for the indecent images offences. 

Shende’s solicitor Heather Crossthwaite said: ‘She does not accept that there was touching. 

‘She described herself as having pursued him and ultimately she has got the wrong end of the stick in terms of having a relationship with him. 

‘It is clear from the report the background and why this may have happened. She has had a difficult time in the past, a difficult upbringing and gender identity issues to a considerable degree. 

‘But she has a lot to offer. She is educated and she’s hard working. She volunteers at a community cafe. 

‘She really wants to help other people but she understands entirely that she has to address the issues that she has first.’

Shende was also made to pay costs of £650 and a victim surcharge of £154 pounds. 

JP Raymond Moore said: ‘If you breach the suspended sentence order, you will go to prison, if you breach the sexual harm prevention order you will go to prison.

‘If you breach the unpaid work order you will go to prison. If you breach the community order you will go to prison. 

‘If you breach the restraining order you will go to prison. There are so many ways you could go to prison.’