A MAN who sexually assaulted a woman he had followed out of a pub has been jailed for three years. Robin Oakes led the woman to a secluded spot behind a warehouse where the assault took place. In March, Oakes, 45, of Swinburne Close, Royston was found gui

A MAN who sexually assaulted a woman he had followed out of a pub has been jailed for three years.

Robin Oakes led the woman to a secluded spot behind a warehouse where the assault took place.

In March, Oakes, 45, of Swinburne Close, Royston was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting the woman. He was acquitted of raping her.

Passing sentence, Judge Michael Kay told Oakes at Luton Crown Court on Monday: "This was a targeted and brutal and nasty attack on a vulnerable woman."

The woman had been left with cuts and bruises to her body and marks and scratches to her neck where Oakes had held her by her throat.

During the trial the court heard how the victim, a married mother in her late 20s, was out for the evening on October 28, 2006 with her husband and a friend from London.

They drunk in several pubs before the woman became separated from the others.

At about 10.45 that night she walked alone into the Coach and Horses pub in Royston.

The jury heard the woman had had a great deal to drink and a blood test later revealed she was three and a half times over the legal driving limit.

Ian Wade, prosecuting, said: "She was a blond, attractive woman who said to the world at large 'who's going to buy me a drink then?'"

Drinking at the bar was Oakes.

The jury heard the woman was not served and the landlord said he thought she should leave.

As the woman left Oakes followed her out.

The court heard outside in the street he caught up with her and led her to a spot behind a warehouse in Lumen Road, where he carried out the attack.

He kissed her and touched her breasts. As she tried to fight him off he pushed a hand down her jeans and into her knickers.

At one point he banged her head on the ground causing injuries before leaving her there and making off.

Mr Wade told the jury "She struggled and struck his face, but he took hold of her throat and was throttling her.

"She thought she might die in his grip," he said.

The jury was told that the defendant's blood was discovered on her clothing, including inside her knickers. But no semen that could be linked to him was found.

He was arrested at the end of November and during the first three interviews did not answer police questions.

But in the fourth interview he claimed she "came on to him" and led him to a dark area where they kissed and touched each other. But then her mood suddenly altered and he just left her there.

Passing sentence Judge Kay told Oakes there was no doubt when the woman entered the pub she was drunk

"The evidence I heard suggests that in that state she was to some extent flirting or appeared to flirt with people in the pub."

He went on: "You saw her in that state and targeted her.

"I am satisfied you led her to this secluded spot with one purpose in mind and that was to sexually assault her."

The court heard although Oakes had a long record of offending, chalking up 51 court appearances involving 146 offences, this was his first sex matter.

Judge Kay told Oakes that he still showed no remorse for his actions that night and was still in denial.

In addition to the jail term, the judge ordered that his name be added to the sex offenders register.

Speaking after the hearing, Chief Insp Melanie Burn said the case would not have been seen through without the victim's "courage and determination".

"I hope that knowing her attacker will be serving a prison term will go some way to helping her and her family to rebuild their lives," she said.

In a statement issued by the victim through Herts police, she said: "This man has put me on an emotional roller-coaster. I used to be a happy-go-lucky person who was very trusting of others, but not any more.

"That night he was just out to take advantage of me. I am glad he is off the streets so he can't do it to anyone else," she said.