Robert Church from Rochford avoids jail

Robert Church, 49, entered the home of the woman in Rayleigh through a broken door and set-up drugs by her bedside with the use of a blade.

Church went and picked up the woman, who was asleep, and carried her upstairs before throwing her onto a bed.

The woman then woke up and challenged Church who quickly fled the scene.

During sentencing on Friday, Basildon Crown Court was told Church had been on a cocaine binge for several days prior to the incident following a family dispute.

He had been messaging the victim online and wrongly thought she was interested in taking drugs and having sex.

Church, of Tylney Avenue, Rochford, was charged with numerous offences after the incident in October 2020.

He later admitted two counts of possessing a controlled class A drug and having an article with a blade of point.

He was also convicted of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence after a trial.

A victim impact statement was read out in court where the woman revealed the long-term effects the incident had on her.

“I cannot stop crying and it’s really shaken me up," she said.

"I am feeling even more anxious and am staying indoors all day which is not good for my mental wellbeing.”

Anthony Abel, mitigating, said it was completely out of character for Church, labelling his behaviour an “aberration”.

Church was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, 40 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £500 compensation for the charge of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.

He was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years, for having an article with a blade of point.

A further two prison sentences, lasting seven days and suspended for two years, was given for two offences of possessing class A drugs.

All sentences will run concurrently.

Church was also given a restraining order against the woman and put on the sex offenders register for 10 years.