A NORTH-EAST man and victim of one Britain’s most serious miscarriages of justice yesterday admitted sexual touching but denied rape.

Sean Hodgson spent 27 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, but less then 18 months after his release, he sexually assaulted a 22-year-old woman.

Hodgson, 59, of Tow Law, County Durham, was charged last December following the incident on August 12.

He appeared at Durham Crown Court yesterday where he was remanded in custody until May 6, when he will be sentenced for the assault.

David Crook, prosecuting, said that, in due course, he would offer no evidence on the rape charge, which is expected to be withdrawn.

Hodgson’s barrister, Martin Heslop QC, said his client was hoping the matter could be concluded yesterday and it was regrettable that it could not.

He said: “His case today is funded by his compensation, any further adjournment would of course cost him.”

Judge Christopher Prince called for the preparation of pre-sentence reports to address the issue of Hodgson’s dangerousness.

A recent report has already concluded he is mentally capable of entering a plea.

Hodgson’s solicitor, Julian Young, last night said his client had shown considerable courage given his experience at the hands of the judicial system.

Mr Young said: “The wrongful imprisonment for 27 years of my client has had a devastating effect on his life since he was cleared of the murder he did not commit.

“Mr Hodgson has been gripped by a number of personal difficulties, including a degree of alcohol abuse, after his 27 years of incarceration due to one of the worst and longest miscarriages of justice in British legal history.

“My client has pleaded guilty to the offence of sexual touching of the victim without her consent.

“He regrets his actions and the suffering he has caused the victim.

“It has taken considerable courage on his part to admit this offence in view of his experiences at the hands of the criminal justice system.”

Hodgson, who grew up in Tow Law, was jailed after apparently confessing to the 1979 murder of barmaid Teresa de Simone, in Southampton.

The 22-year-old gas board clerk and part-time barmaid was strangled with a gold necklace then raped in her Ford Escort, outside Southampton’s Tom Tackle pub.

Hodgson later denied the killing, but was convicted by a jury.

DNA evidence, unavailable at the time, later proved he had not killed the barmaid.

Hodgson, who suffers from depression and schizophrenia, maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration, which prevented him from being paroled.

He was released in March 2009, after the conviction was quashed at London’s Court of Appeal.

He launched a compensation bid against the Home Office for wrongful conviction and could be eligible for up to £1m.

He is understood to have received £250,000 so far.