A MAN is behind bars for what a judge described as a “heinous” drunken sex attack on a young woman.

Terrance Richardson left his victim feeling “humiliated and victimised”, a court heard.

The 53-year-old, from North Yorkshire, told the woman she was “gorgeous”, then groped her after she turned away from him.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Richardson persisted with a more intimate sexual assault, having moved or removed her clothing without her consent.

Prosecutor Richard Bennett said: “She started to cry. That’s when he stopped sexually assaulting her. The defendant tried to hug her. By then she was very distressed.

“She squirmed and tried to push him away. She told him to go away in forceful terms.”

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, ended up on the floor as Richardson said: “I’m so sorry. What have I done?”

She got away and reported the sexual assaults, which happened in the Guisborough area.

She later said she felt anxiety, “crippling shame”, a poor self-image and low self-esteem.

Richardson initially denied any sexual activity with the woman, or having any interest in her, and said he had no memory of the alleged activity, but later admitted two sexual assaults.

Duncan McReddie, defending, said: “I think this offence can be properly characterised as a drunken, impulsive, disinhibited act by a man who should know much, much better, and in fact does know much much better.

“He appears before you contrite, embarrassed and deeply sorry.”

Judge Howard Crowson told the defendant: “You only accepted your guilt when scientific evidence proved her account was true.”

Richardson, of The Ropery, Pickering, was jailed for 18 months, his first prison sentence.

He was given an indefinite restraining order banning him from communicating with the victim, instructing anyone else to do so or going within 100m of any property where he believed her to be.

He will be on the sex offenders’ register for ten years.