Sex offender posed as woman on Facebook

A CONVICTED sex offender attacked a woman in her own home after answering an advertisement for a dog she was selling.

Michael Reed contacted his victim via Facebook, posing as a woman by using the made-up name "Britney Lactater", Bristol Crown Court heard.

The 30-year-old, who had previous convictions for indecent assaults on a woman and a girl, used a false name because the social networking website would not allow people on the sex offender's register to use it.

Julian Howells, prosecuting, told the court that Reed went to the woman's Bristol flat in November last year and she let him in when he said he had come about the dog.

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But as they discussed the animal Reed slapped the woman's backside "with force" and made a lewd comment. He then told the woman he would give her the £60 asking price for the dog "if I can get into your bed" before cornering her, pinning her down and ripping off her top.

He pushed her on to a bed and tried to get on top of her, kissing her neck, but the woman bit him and he apologised and left.

Police tracked Reed down after viewing CCTV footage taken by a camera near the woman's home.

Reed, of Lonsdale Avenue, Weston- super-Mare, pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

Edward Burgess, defending, said the improper touching was "relatively minor", adding: "He knows he's got a problem."

Judge Carol Hagen jailed Reed for four years, telling him that sentencing guidelines which recommended a prison term of between six months and two years did not "deal with the gravity of this offence".

Reed was told to register as a sex offender indefinitely and was made the subject of an eight-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

The victim, who attended court for the sentencing, told The Post: "He deserved everything he got, really.

"I was so scared I didn't want to report it at first. I am just glad I did now – he can't go out and do it to other people. I reckon the judge was really good. She did a good job."