4.21.2008

"He's Looking at Me!"

LECCO, Italy (Reuters) - An Italian man was given a suspended jail sentence for staring too intensely at a woman sitting in front of him on a train.

A judge sentenced the man in his 30s, whose name was not revealed, to 10 days in prison and a 40 euro ($63) fine after a 55-year old woman filed a complaint for sexual harassment.

His lawyer said on Friday he would appeal the sentence. The court will explain its verdict later.

The two met on two separate occasions in 2005 on a commuter train going from Lecco, a town in northern Italy, to Milan.

The first time, the man sat next to the woman but she felt he had moved too close for comfort. The next day, the man sat in front of the same woman and according to her complaint, stared at her for the whole journey.


The two did not speak.


Really? Sexual harassment. I mean it is creepy and all, but I wouldn't think you could get put in the slammer for just staring at someone. Also, I thought that kind of behavior was more socially acceptable in Italy. Then again, I have no real documentation for that assumption.


[Photo via jupiterimages]