Exclusive by Annette Wilson

A woman was groped by a 'good samaritan’ who offered her a lift to collect her prescription drugs.

After the assault, he gave her £40 asking her not to tell anybody.

Minutes after she had gone into a supermarket and asked someone to call the police, the man walked in, put his arm round her and hugged her telling her not to tell anybody saying it was 'their secret’.

Simon Hogben, 57, of Pilgrims Lane, Chilham, appeared for sentence at Canterbury Crown Court having admitted sexual assault and was jailed for 30 months.

Hogben had a history of sex offences having attacked four young girls in the past, his last offence being dealt with at the same court in 2007 when he was jailed for 36 months.

Jailing Hogben, Judge James O’Mahony, said it was clear Hogben had manipulated opportunities where he could take advantage of his victims.

Denzil Pugh, prosecuting, said the young woman was visiting a friend in Canterbury when she needed to collect a prescription but did not feel well enough to go.

Hogben was also at the premises and offered her a lift.

As they drove off, he asked if she minded if he touched her knee.

“She did not respond being taken aback by the request so he put his hand on her leg then it crawled up.

She said no and pushed his hand away but he again began touching her leg,” said Mr Pugh.

He drove round the supermarket car park missing serveral parking places until she told him to park.

He said he could see her breasts through her clothing and asked to touch them.

As she got out of the car he gave her the money saying not to tell anybody and it was their little secret.

Very distressed, she went into the supermarket and told staff to call the police.

She had been there about 10 minutes when Hogben walked in, put his arm round her and hugged her and whispered to her not to tell anybody or he would get into trouble.

She got him away by pretending she needed a glass of water and he was arrested.

In interview Hogben claimed he was just trying to comfort her because he thought she was sick.

He had put his hand on her leg to reassure her and denied touching her indecently.

“He said throughout he was a big hearted sort of person and thinking about her welfare in his actions at the time.”

Sangita Mogdil, for Hogben, conceded Hogben’s history would be of concern.

She said Hogben suffered learning difficulties which may cause him to react in ways that did not benefit him, and said he had considerable health problems.

She stressed he had spared the victim the ordeal of giving evidence.