A UK trans-identifying male convicted child sex offender has escaped jail time after sexually assaulting a Liverpool hotel worker in June 2025. Chandi Shende, 25, groped the victim's male genitalia when the hotel staffer agreed to carry items to Shende's room. Shende was convicted of sexual assault at trial in Liverpool Magistrates Court and received a two-year suspended jail sentence, with the judge ordering him to complete 25 days of rehabilitation activity and 150 hours of unpaid work.
The incident occurred on June 14, 2025, in which the victim told the Court that Shende's actions left him "traumatized." Shende, of Liverpool, has been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years and was issued a two-year restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting the victim.
Additionally, Shende has a prior 2023 conviction for making, possessing, and distributing indecent images of children. Despite his repeated history of sex crimes, Shende escaped being sent to prison even after he told Judge JP Raymond Moore that it may be better for him to be jailed. "It keeps me away from interacting with the world," Shende said, according to Daily Mail.
Prosecutor Mark Baker said that Shende "touched the victim's penis over clothing" when the hotel staffer agreed to help move an ironing board in his room. "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," Baker told the jury. Shende was a resident guest at the time.
The victim testified that the sexual assault caused serious mental distress that forced him to take time off work, resulting in lost wages and income. "I have been withdrawn, feeling isolated, and anxious," the victim said. "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."
Heather Crossthwaite, Shende's solicitor, claimed to the Court that Shende believed he was in a relationship with the victim. "[Shende] described [himself] as having pursued him and ultimately [he] got the wrong end of the stick...[Shende] has had a difficult time in the past, a difficult upbringing, and gender identity issues to a considerable degree. But [he] has a lot to offer."
Shende told the judge that when he interacts with the world "it gets difficult for me to manage my mental health." He added, "I have got better and better, but it just takes so much hard work on my behalf to work on my crazy mind."
Judge Moore also ordered Shende to pay the victim damages and explained that if he breaches the suspended sentence order and/or sexual harm prevention order, he will be sent to prison.
The incident occurred on June 14, 2025, in which the victim told the Court that Shende's actions left him "traumatized." Shende, of Liverpool, has been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years and was issued a two-year restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting the victim.
Additionally, Shende has a prior 2023 conviction for making, possessing, and distributing indecent images of children. Despite his repeated history of sex crimes, Shende escaped being sent to prison even after he told Judge JP Raymond Moore that it may be better for him to be jailed. "It keeps me away from interacting with the world," Shende said, according to Daily Mail.
Prosecutor Mark Baker said that Shende "touched the victim's penis over clothing" when the hotel staffer agreed to help move an ironing board in his room. "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," Baker told the jury. Shende was a resident guest at the time.
The victim testified that the sexual assault caused serious mental distress that forced him to take time off work, resulting in lost wages and income. "I have been withdrawn, feeling isolated, and anxious," the victim said. "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."
Heather Crossthwaite, Shende's solicitor, claimed to the Court that Shende believed he was in a relationship with the victim. "[Shende] described [himself] as having pursued him and ultimately [he] got the wrong end of the stick...[Shende] has had a difficult time in the past, a difficult upbringing, and gender identity issues to a considerable degree. But [he] has a lot to offer."
Shende told the judge that when he interacts with the world "it gets difficult for me to manage my mental health." He added, "I have got better and better, but it just takes so much hard work on my behalf to work on my crazy mind."
Judge Moore also ordered Shende to pay the victim damages and explained that if he breaches the suspended sentence order and/or sexual harm prevention order, he will be sent to prison.
