A WELLINGTON man who entered a woman’s home without permission before sexually and physically assaulting her has been given a suspended prison sentence.
The defendant, Edward Lane, 32, of Pear Tree Way, Wellington, Somerset, appeared in Taunton Crown Court on Friday, July 24.
The court heard that on June 2, 2024, in Somerset, Lane assaulted a woman, caused her actual bodily harm and touched a woman sexually, without consent.
Mr Ehsanul Oarith, prosecuting, stated Lane, whilst intoxicated, walked into the victim’s home without a prior arrangement, and when asked to leave, he went upstairs and entered her bedroom.
Despite the victim, whose name cannot be revealed for legal reasons, trying to persuade Lane to leave the property, he started making sexual comments about her appearance.
The court heard Lane described her legs as "big and juicy" and he said he was going to perform various sexual acts on her.
The court heard Lane then started touching her, pulling her hair and trying to make her kiss him, despite her refusing.
It was heard that Lane asked her to kiss him at least 10 times, despite repeatedly being told no.
The court heard Lane then resorted to violence, punched her in the arm and the leg and slapped her across the face – leaving red marks.
The court heard the victim made the excuse to use the toilet, went downstairs and ran out of the house, hid herself outside and called the police, who later arrested Lane.
In her victim statement, the woman said: "This has left me completely petrified of being alone in my house.
"I feel I have completely lost the last part of myself I had left, and he took that from me.
"I don’t feel safe knowing he is walking around. I want to put my life back together.
"I didn’t just lose part of who I was, I lost my home, I have lost my friends, all because of this man’s actions."
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Mr Harry Ahuja, defending, said: "This incident has had a significant impact on Mr Lane; this is the jolt he needed to turn his life around."
Mr Ahuja said Lane is "making positive progress", has not committed any further offences since 2024, and his father has ‘seen a change in him’.
He also said Lane aims to move away from alcohol and cannabis completely or apply for medicinal/prescribed cannabis as Lane feels it ‘helps calm him down.’
Mr Ahuja said: "The defendant is very keen to keep up the good work he has settled on."
Mr Recorder S Levene said: "You burst into the victim’s home; burst may be a strong word, but you were most certainly not invited.
"You sexually and physically assaulted her. As a result of your behaviour, your victim ran out of the house to call the police.
"As a result of what happened to her, she feels she could not go back to the home in which she was living."
The court heard Lane was "drunk, possibly very drunk and possibly drugged too" at the time the offence was committed and that the victim was "compelled to leave her home".
It was also heard Lane has previous convictions for "barging into other people’s homes and behaving in an anti-social way".
Lane was given a total custodial sentence of 25 months' imprisonment, suspended for a period of two years.
Lane must also complete 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days, is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years, must register with the police for 10 years and a restraining order.
Lane must also pay a surcharge of £187 and may be barred from working with children and/or vulnerable adults.
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