A pervert who broke into a woman’s home and sexually assaulted her as she slept on her sofa has been jailed for five years.

Maidstone Crown Court heard in January how the shocked woman woke up and ordered Samuel Miller to leave.

He did so but returned later after she had gone to bed. He fled when she screamed so loudly that neighbours heard her.

Miller then bizarrely called the police and claimed the woman had invited him into her flat.

The 30-year-old, of St John’s Road, Sevenoaks, denied trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence and sexual assault but was convicted.

A judge found that Miller intended to sexually assault the victim, adding: “If it was rape, the sentence would be very different.”

Prosecutor Andrew Espley said the woman fell asleep after arriving home to her basement flat from work in July last year. She was wearing a dress and had removed her underwear.

"Miller did everything he could to try and blame his victim for his shocking actions. The simple truth is that he has abused a woman as she sleeping..." - Det Con Raj Dusanjh

The curtains were open but the windows were shut and locked.

“The next thing that happened was she woke up and realised there was a man’s head between her legs,” said Mr Espley. “She felt numb and shocked.”

She asked: “Who are you?” She pleaded with him to leave. He stayed silent and had a blank expression on his face. As she “guided” him out she saw the door was open.

Mr Espley said the woman found it a somewhat surreal experience and did not immediately report it.

About 90 minutes later she was in bed when she heard her windows rattling.

She realised someone was trying to break in and was terrified. She screamed as she saw Miller climbing through a window.

She ran bare foot into the street. Shortly afterwards Miller emerged and told her: “You invited me in.” Neighbours heard her screams and went to help her.

When interviewed by police the victim did not at first mention the first incident.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens said he accepted Miller was out in the early hours because he found it difficult to sleep.

“The sentence would be very different if there was evidence you were walking the streets in order to find a potential victim," he added.

Miller’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Leading the investigation for Kent Police was Detective Constable Raj Dusanjh who said: "Miller did everything he could to try and blame his victim for his shocking actions.

"The simple truth is that he has abused a woman as she sleeping. He then attempted to take advantage of her confused and terrified state of mind by creeping back into the house shortly after the initial assault.

"The court has seen through Miller’s lies and recognised that the victim was entirely blameless for his despicable behaviour.

"I hope that the sentence passed will now provide some comfort and reassurance to the victim, that he no longer poses a danger."

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