A young mother was molested in front of her child by an energy company salesman touting for business after she agreed to switch providers, a court heard.

The distraught woman was on the phone to the company finalising the deal when John Adams groped her bottom, kissed her on the neck and pulled her hand towards his groin.

In the recorded call played to a jury, she could be heard shouting: “Get off me.”

The woman, 20, was in her pyjamas and dressing gown and holding her young child in her arms when the 63-year-old Utilita Energy salesman called after dark at her flat in Swanley in November 2015.

Her ex-boyfriend was lying down in a bedroom suffering from a migraine at the time.

Adams, of Lower Boxley Road, Maidstone, asked to go in, saying it was cold outside. He then offered her a cheaper supply of gas and energy supply.

Prosecutor Craig Evans said Adams suggested that the mother put her child down as she looked uncomfortable.

After she laid the tot on the sofa, Adams asked for a cup of tea. She obliged and then agreed to sign up to the energy company.

“The defendant called the company to conduct the process,” Mr Evans told Maidstone Crown Court. “He responded by saying ‘Well done’ and rubbed the top of her arm.

“She just thought he was being friendly. She received a phone call from the energy company and discussed the terms and conditions of the deal.

“During the course of the call the defendant touched her bottom. She thought it was accidental but realised very quickly it was deliberate because he did it twice more.

“He kissed her on the back of her neck. He took hold of her hand and pulled it towards his waistband. He was undoing his trousers with the other hand.

“She pulled her hand away. She shouted out. She grabbed her child and ended the phone call.”

"Quite plainly, this was an abuse of trust. She was particularly vulnerable and you abused that vulnerability. This is a very serious offence" - Judge Martin Joy

The woman, who cannot be identified, shouted out: “He has touched me.” Her ex-boyfriend heard her and came out of the bedroom and threw Adams out.

“She was crying and shaking and extremely distressed,” said Mr Evans.

The police were told and Adams was traced because he left behind a booklet with his name and phone number on it.

He denied sexual assault, claiming she made up the allegation because she was seeking compensation or she did not want to go through with the deal.

But he was convicted by the jury of nine men and three women.

Remanding him in custody until sentence in the week beginning May 15, Judge Martin Joy warned: “I take the view there is an inevitable immediate custodial sentence.”

He told Adams: “You have been convicted on extremely overwhelming evidence. You pleaded not guilty, which is your right but did you no credit at all.

“You made her give evidence and relive the experience. Your defence she was a liar and made up the allegation was roundly rejected by the jury.

“Quite plainly, this was an abuse of trust. She was particularly vulnerable and you abused that vulnerability. This is a very serious offence.”

The judge said such offences also had a “massive effect on society” as a whole.

“There will be an order that you will not be allowed to cold call and take advantage of women in such a situation,” he added.