A PERVERT who sexually attacked a sleeping woman and then pretended he was offering her a cup of tea has been jailed for two years.

Andrew Keating confessed he was "sick in the head" after abusing his vulnerable victim who was recovering after surgery for a devastating illness, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Keating of Wellington Street, Idle, Bradford, was convicted by a jury last month of sexually assaulting the woman on January 1, 2013.

He was remanded in custody for the preparation of a report from the probation service.

His victim was sleeping on a settee after drinking more than usual on New Year's Eve, prosecutor Rukhshanda Hussain told the court yesterday.

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She was woken at 7am by Keating touching her intimately while doing something to himself.

She told him he was dirty and disgusting and he said he was "sick in the head."

The woman fled the house in a very distressed state.

Keating was later confronted by her mother and denied any wrongdoing.

He was arrested on January 29 last year and told the police he tapped the woman on the shoulder to give her a cup of tea.

Keating's victim, who was in court supported by family and friends, was there to see justice and find closure, Miss Hussain said.

She had been unable to move on with her life, needed counselling and had could not sleep.

Keating, 33, had previous convictions for assault, damage, harassment, theft and affray, the court heard. He had no record for sexual offences.

His barrister, Niall Carlin, said Keating had mental health issues, including suffering from psychosis.

He had severe depression and his learning difficulties meant that he left school without qualifications.

Keating had worked as a labourer and a warehouseman. He had been married and he was the father of two children.

Since he had been remanded in custody awaiting sentence, he had completed a maths qualification and he was studying English to improve his prospect of employment.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said Keating's denial of the offence meant that his victim had to come to court to give evidence.

She was recovering from a traumatic physical illness and was now mentally scarred.

Keating had made "preposterous suggestions" about what happened that morning.

He had showed "appalling insensitivity" to his victim.

Judge Durham Hall made a restraining order without limit of time banning Keating from having any contact with the woman. He must sign on the sex offenders' register for seven years.