A DRUNKEN sex attacker groped a married woman's thighs after entering her Worcester home uninvited as a city judge warned he would jail city men who took advantage of women.

Darren Jones admitted sexual assault on the 'vulnerable woman' in Worcester, kissing her head and stroking her upper thighs in front of her husband as she - and her partner - pleaded with him to stop.

Judge James Burbidge QC, the Recorder of Worcester and the city's most senior judge, condemned the actions of such men, issuing his jail warning against the background of the murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard who disappeared after walking home in Clapham in London on March 3.

Met Police constable Wayne Couzens is accused of the kidnap and murder in a case that has sent shockwaves through the country.

We have also reported this week how leaflets have been posted through doors in the city calling for men to be monitored by the Government '24/7', including curfews and fines.

Judge Burbidge, speaking at the sentence hearing, said: "In the public domain at the moment is the fact that men feel they can engage in inappropriate behaviour towards women without condemnation. This court will condemn those who act in such a way by immediate sentences of imprisonment."

The 49-year-old defendant, previously of Bransford Road, St John's, Worcester appeared before the judge for sentence on Thursday after pleading guilty to the sexual assault at a hearing the day before, only accepting responsibility for his actions on what would have been the first day of trial.

Philip Beardwell, prosecuting, said Jones arrived at the home of the couple at 3.30am on July 24 last year as the defendant said 'get out of bed you lazy bastard!'

During the assault on the married woman he touched her upper thighs, kissed the top of her head and told her 'he wanted to have sex with her' said Mr Beardwell.

"She replied she was married and did not want to" said the prosecutor.

The court heard how they did not manage to get Jones out of the house until 8am. "She told him repeatedly to stop" said Mr Beardwell.

In a victim personal statement she said had been 'feeling anxious' as a result of what happened and has been forced to increase her anxiety medication.

Mr Beardwell added: "She is afraid to go into town. She resists intimacy with her husband which has caused difficulties in their relationship."

The complainant has also reported difficulties sleeping and had expressed anxiety that the defendant knows where she lives 'and so she fears him attending her address again'.

Jones has eight previous convictions for 16 offences. The most relevant occurred in 1997 when he received four years imprisonment for attempted rape, indecent assault and making threats to kill.

Michael Anning, defending, said mitigation came from the fact that Jones had pleaded guilty 'even if somewhat belatedly' which prevented the victim having to come to court to give evidence.

Mr Anning said Jones had not always been an unwelcome visitor at the address and that 'nothing of this kind had ever happened before'.

At the time, Jones was 'literally falling over drunk' and there was 'no attempt to continue with a serious form of sexual assault'.

Jones remains on 'powerful medication' and has a lump on his neck which causes him severe pain and another on his spine and suffers from irritable bowel syndrome.

The defendant is on prescription drugs for physical pain and for his anxiety, Mr Anning told the court.

Judge James Burbidge QC described the defendant's behaviour as taking place in 'bizarre circumstances'.

He said: "You sat next to her and started to touch her upper thigh and tried to kiss the top of her head. You were told to stop that but you continued for a while until ultimately you were made to stop." The judge told Jones he was fortunate not to be charged with a more serious crime such as burglary with intent to commit a sexual offence.

Judge Burbidge said that the victim has 'become much more anxious' as a result of what Jones did to her and his 'unwelcome advances'.

"It was bizarre - I say this because you did it in front of her husband" said the judge.

His previous convictions 'many years ago' were 'relevant and worrying'. However, he accepted that Jones had been out of trouble for some years and that Jones had both medical and mental health issues.

Giving him a 10 per cent discount in the length of his jail term to reflect the defendant's late guilty plea, Judge Burbidge jailed him for 14 months.

A 10 year restraining order was made which prevents Jones making contact, directly or indirectly, with the victim or her husband or from going within 500 yards of their address.

Jones must also sign the sex offender register for 10 years.