A DRUNKEN man was punched three times in the face by an irate young woman after putting his hands down her pyjama bottoms, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

David Gott, 57, sexually abused his victim in a Bradford bedsit where she was sleeping on July 23 last year.

Prosecutor Nick Adlington said she woke to find Gott molesting her and called the police.

Gott, of Main Street, Wyke, Bradford, pleaded guilty to sexual assault last month, on the day he was set to stand trial.

He told the police he had not committed any offence and then declined to answer any questions in interview.

Gott's barrister, Nigel Jamieson, said his client had been drinking and could not at first bring himself to admit something he had no recollection of.

His change of plea had saved the woman from having to give evidence at a trial.

Gott's problem with alcohol began when he was 14 and he was anxious to receive help.

Judge Colin Burn sentenced him to ten months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a nine month Alcohol Treatment Requirement and a 20 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, both with the probation service.

Gott must register with the police as a sex offender for ten years and Judge Burn made a five year restraining order banning him from contacting his victim or going within 100 metres of her home.

The judge told Gott: "You probably did not have an awful lot of idea about what you were doing but that does not make it any less of a criminal offence."

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