The sex victim of a pervert plumber has told of her anger that her attacker has escaped going straight to prison.

Malcolm Nix, 53, was convicted of sexually assaulting his victim – a mother from Thanet.

The woman – who cannot be named for legal reasons – broke down in tears at Canterbury Crown Court when Nix was given a suspended prison sentence for his sex crime.

After the hearing, she said: "He should have gone to jail - even if it was just for a day. He needed teaching a lesson.

"He is now walking about free, while I have to live with the consequences of his vile behaviour. This isn't justice."

She had to relive her ordeal twice - after the first trial was stopped for legal reasons and had to be re-started weeks later.

The brave mother added: "During both trials, he made me out to be a liar, claimed that I had made the whole thing up.

"At least I have the satisfaction now that the jury believed me and everyone knows that he is the liar and a sex pest."

Nix, of Canterbury Road, Lydden, Dover, had denied the charge but a jury rejected his claim that he had not sexually groped the mum.

The plumber - who earns £28,000-a-year from his work at Shorncliffe Barracks in Folkestone - was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

The victim, who is in her 20s, said later: "I was utterly traumatised. I just couldn't believe it had happened.

"It was out of the blue and totally shocking. It shattered my confidence."

At the sentencing hearing, Nix's barrister Dominic Webber suggested he could be punished by paying his victim compensation – but that was rejected by the judge.

The mother added: "It was bad enough that he attacked me, but then to add insult to injury got his lawyer to offer me blood money to try and buy me off.

"What did he think I would do with his filthy money... spend it on a holiday?

"Fortunately the judge saw through his offer. I am sure it disgusted him as much as it disgusted me."

The victim and her mother, who was also present at the hearing, praised DC Chris Price from Ashford who investigated the attack.

She said: "He has been a star and has been so supportive to both of us. We can't thank him highly enough for his help."

"It was bad enough that he attacked me, but then to add insult to injury got his lawyer to offer me blood money to try and buy me off..." - sex attack victim of plumber Malcolm Nix

Judge James O'Mahony also praised the victim, saying the incident had a "devastating effect on her".

He added: "She gave her evidence twice with great dignity and courage and it has been made clear to me just how much she has suffered as a result of this incident."

Mr Webber said that before the attacks, Nix had been a "man of good character" and he handed in two references from a work colleague and a neighbour.

He said: "He has now lost his reputation and it has had a catastrophic effect on him. He did go to his victim's address the following day and apologise for what was a spontaneous and unplanned incident.

"Although, after being charged it seems, sadly, he couldn't accept his responsibility for what had happened."

Nix, who did not look at his victim during the hearing, was told he will have to do 150 hours of unpaid work for the community and pay £1,500 court costs.

The judge also made an indefinite restraining order to ensure Nix stays away from his victim.

Judge O'Mahony said: "You have lost your standing in the community, lost your reputation. You have suffered but you have only yourself to blame.

"You did touch her, I accept it was spontaneous and it was quick and she told you in no uncertain terms to get off.

"But now you are branded as a convicted sex offender and will go on the Sex Offenders' Register for a considerable period of time."