A MAN who pounced on a terrified teenager and subjected her to a sex attack as she walked through an unlit pathway has been found guilty of indecent assault.

Kevin Thompson, 41, had followed the 17-year-old girl as she walked home in Middlesbrough, before jumping from bushes and grabbing her.

He touched her leg and carried out the sex attack before she managed to struggle free and run home.

A jury at Teesside Crown Court took three hours and 35 minutes yesterday to convict Thompson, with a 10-2 majority.

The court heard he had no previous convictions but an allegation had been made that he exposed himself in front of children.

The Crown Prosecution Service will decide whether to proceed with a case against him of engaging in sexual activity with children, in the light of the guilty verdict.

His barrister, Jamie Hill, said Thompson had been forced to leave a previous address after he appeared at magistrates' court for the indecent assault.

However, the judge declined to ban publication of his address because it was already in the public domain.

Thompson, of St Pat-rick's Road, Grangetown, Middlesbrough, was bailed until March for the preparation of medical and pre-sentence reports.

The jury had been told that Thompson followed the girl as she walked home in Normanby, Middlesbrough, at about 5pm on December 2.

He pulled his trousers down and then pounced on her before carrying out the sex attack.

He had denied the offence.