A WOMAN who woke half-naked and found a man had been simulating sex with her in front of others has told how the ordeal has shattered her life.

The 34-year-old was attacked by teenager Ovidiu Ionut Lare at a house in Darlington after a night out with a friend, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Lare was jailed for two-and-a-half years and put in the sex offenders’ register for ten years after he pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault.

His victim said in an impact statement read to the court that she is on medication, is afraid to go out alone and lost a job through the stress.

She was said to have been “extremely drunk” when she got back to her friend’s home, along with three men they had met, and fell asleep on a settee.

Lare had gone upstairs with the other woman and had consensual sex, and the victim and another male were kissing on the sofa, said prosecutor Lee Fish.

When Lare, now aged 20, returned, his friend was trying to have sex with the sleeping woman, but could not – which led to others making fun of him.

Lare, of Laburnum Road, Darlington, claimed he was asked to demonstrate what to do, and simulated intercourse, Mr Fish told Judge Simon Hickey yesterday.

After his arrest, he initially denied anything had happened, but when his DNA was found on the woman’s leggings and underwear, he pleaded guilty.

Mr Fish said three men were arrested, but the victim was unable to say which one had indecently touched her – although she remembered hearing laughing.

Judge Hickey told Lare the woman had been humiliated and said: “It certainly can be said there were others acting with you to commit an offence.”

Ben Pegman, mitigating, said that Romanian national Lare still had the support of his partner and her mother, who were in court to see him locked up.

He said he had worked in car valeting and washing since arriving in the UK a short time before the offence, and added: “He was very young and perhaps naive.”

Mr Pegman added: “Mr Lare would wish it to be placed on the record that he is genuinely remorseful for his actions.

“He is aware of the contents of the victim personal statement and he says he is truly sorry.”