A woman who was molested after a barbecue in Bristol says she is "ecstatic" her attacker has been jailed on appeal.

Kenneth Wright, of Exmouth Road, Knowle, was originally spared jail at Bristol Crown Court and given a three-year community order in December.

Judge David Ticehurst admitted he was taking the "exceptional" step after the court heard the 25-year-old had an impeccable record and good character references.

But yesterday, the Court of Appeal overturned the sentence and jailed Wright for 18 months.

Speaking from London, his victim told the Evening Post: "I'm ecstatic. I cannot believe they've actually done something about this.

"I'm so glad he's actually being punished now. I'm very relieved but I'm going through loads of feelings at the moment.

"It makes you wonder how one judge can give him one sentence and another judge gives him something completely different," added the 21-year-old.

As previously reported, Wright and his victim had been drinking one night last summer and found themselves alone in a room.

Then 20 years old, she had been unconscious but woke up to find Wright sexually assaulting her. In court, Wright admitted assault by penetration.

His victim added: "I don't drink any more because it really upsets me. I used to be out in town seven nights a week but I hardly go out any more.

"I've lost confidence around everyone, not just men. I'll never forget what happened, but I hope I can put it behind me and get on with my life."

Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, Mr Justice Collins and Mr Justice Griffith Williams agreed with the Attorney General, Baroness Scotland, that the original non-custodial sentence handed out to Wright was "unduly lenient".

Lord Judge said: "She was defenceless and the offender took advantage of her vulnerability to molest her when he knew perfectly well that she would not have agreed to sexual familiarity of any kind."

He wanted to send a strong message to "make it clear" that when a woman was too ill or unfit for whatever reason to consent to sexual familiarities, "she is not consenting".

Lord Judge said Wright had previously intimated to the woman and others that he was "very attracted to her". But he added: "She made it completely plain that his feelings for her were not in any way reciprocated. We cannot emphasise too strongly that in such circumstances she must be left alone."

Exploitation of a woman's vulnerability in such a way was "an aggravating, not a mitigating, feature of the crime", he added.

Wright's original sentence was a community order including requirements of supervision, a sex offenders' programme and a ban on contacting the victim for three years. Wright will also be on the Sex Offenders' Register for the next five years.

Following yesterday's hearing, he was ordered to surrender to his local police station.