A SERIAL sex offender was warned by a judge that he faced a jail sentence if he did not comply with a therapy programme to help him stop.

Mark Nunn indecently assaulted a 21-year-old woman after calling at her home at night, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Three of his previous crimes were sex assaults on girls under the age of 16, said prosecutor Gareth Walters.

The 33-year-old, from Dunclent Avenue, Comberton, Kidderminster, also had convictions for unlawful sexual intercourse and indecent assault on a girl aged over 16.

Warning Nunn that he was fortunate to escape prison, Judge Michael Mott said jail at this stage was not the best way forward as Nunn would be mixing with other sex attackers in custody.

Nunn, who pleaded guilty to indecent assault, had been undergoing specialist treatment since his last conviction in September, 2001.

The judge gave the defendant a three-year community rehabilitation order and said he must attend a sex offenders' programme.

He added that Nunn had committed a "gross" offence on a woman in her own home between April and September, 2001. She did not go to the police until June last year.

For Nunn it was the fifth time he had been given probation for sex offences.

He tapped on the window of his victim's flat at 11pm and pushed his way in when she opened the door, said Mr Walters.

Despite protests, he hugged, kissed and groped her but left when she refused to go to bed with him.

Martin Butterworth, defending, said Nunn had a long-suffering wife who knew of his tendencies and kept a close eye on him. He was responding to treatment.