LUDLOW MAN JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT
A 29-year-old Ludlow man who sexually assaulted a woman after they had been drinking together has been jailed.James Sandiford was said to have committed the offence when the victim fell asleep on a sofa at her home.
At Shrewsbury Crown Court this week Sandiford was jailed for 18 months.
Judge Jim Tindal stated that the defendant had not accepted full responsibility for his actions.
"You took advantage of the victim when she was in an inebriated state to commit this offence," he said.
The court heard that Sandiford had received a caution in 2010 following an incident when he committed a sex act in front of a woman in her bedroom.
The incident happened in January last year when the victim and the defendant had been drinking.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, woke to see Sandiford right in front of her, pulling at her trousers with himself naked below the waist.
Sandiford apologized and left the house, later claiming to police that the woman had responded to his attentions and had 'tried it on' but stopped when she told him to.
Prosecutor Mr.
Jonathan Dickinson described the sexual assault as occurring when the woman was asleep, and Sandiford was persistent in lying about there being earlier consensual sexual activity.
His attitude to sex and boundaries was discussed as problematic by his lawyer.
Sandiford had initially denied a charge of attempted rape but pled guilty on the day of his trial to sexual assault, which was accepted by the prosecution.
Judge Tindal noted the plea and recorded a formal not guilty verdict on attempted rape.
The court highlighted Sandiford's previous caution in 2010 for a sexual act in front of a woman in her bedroom.
The case was heard after the defendant was found to have committed the latest offence in January of the previous year, involving the victim waking to find him in her home, pulling at her trousers while naked below the waist.
Sandiford apologized and left the scene, and his attitude towards sex issues was considered an aggravating factor.
The defendant's background includes a 2010 caution, and he was described as having difficulties with boundaries and in past issues related to sex.
