An alcoholic who touched a teenage girl improperly after drinking heavily and smoking cannabis has been jailed for 14 months.

Alan England abused the 19-year-old when she visited his home at Ashmead House in Avondale Road, Barton Hill, Bristol Crown Court heard.

England, 50, pleaded guilty to sexual assault following the incident in November last year.

Imposing the jail term Judge Martin Picton told him: "You took advantage of a vulnerable young woman, to offend against her in a very serious sexual manner…

"She was under the influence of drink and drugs and she was with you as a guest.

"You held her with your arm in a manner which caused great upset and distress, as is only to be expected."

The judge told England to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Nicolas Gerasimidis, prosecuting, said because of his drink and drugs session, England could remember little of what he did.

The court heard that after the abuse took place he awoke to a knock on his front door and was punched in the face by a friend of the victim.

Mr Gerasimidis said: "He said 'I accept what she said about events in the sitting room.

"He said 'My perception was altered by the substances I consumed and I have little recollection."

Fiona Elder, defending, said that her client's alcoholism meant he struggled with memory and coherent thought.

She told the court: "He accepts (the victim) wasn't telling lies. He does have difficulties with recollection.

"He has not sought to pull wool over anybody's eyes and put this girl in court."

Miss Elder conceded it was a very serious offence which would have been deeply distressing for the young woman.

She said: "Mr England is lonely, inadequate and finds it very difficult to form meaning relationships.

"He acted in an entirely inappropriate and illegal manner, mainly because of his inadequacy in being able to form proper relationships."