A SUPPOSED Good Samaritan who helped an extremely drunken woman home, took advantage of her condition by sexually abusing her, a court was told.

Laura Hocking came to the aid of the woman, who had become highly inebriated on a night out with friends in Durham city centre.

Durham Crown Court heard that apart from drinking heavily she had also taken valium, a drug she had never previously used.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said: “This entirely incapacitated her and the defendant went to assist in returning her to her place of residence.

“A number of people confirmed what state she was in, and it’s certainly the Crown’s case that she wasn’t in a fit state to consent to anything.

“The defendant was seen leading her by the hand into her room and she didn’t leave until some hours later.”

Mr Baker said the other woman woke the following morning naked in bed, with love bites to her neck, feeling that she had been ‘violated’.

Several days after the incident Hocking was said to have confided with friends that she had “an encounter” with the woman.

Another woman recorded her comments and police were notified.

A prepared statement was handed to police where Hocking claimed they had kissed and cuddled, and she had taken the other woman’s clothes off, but that they had touched each other sexually.

Mr Baker said this was not in accordance with the Crown’s version of the case.

But he added that it was accepted that she did not give the victim any drink or drugs that night.

Hocking, 29, of Churchill Square, Gilesgate, Durham, admitted the sexual assault at a recent hearing.

Andrew Rutter, mitigating, said she has learning difficulties and mental health issues, and would benefit from “structured supervision” under the guise of the Probation Service.

He said it was the first offence of its type committed by the defendant.

Recorder Nicholas Lumley QC said as she has been in custody since her arrest, on July 27, he would impose a six-month prison sentence, suspended for a year.

But he said she must undergo 20 Probation Service supervised rehabilitation activity days.

A restraining order was imposed while Hocking will also be subject to sex offender registration, both for five years.