A WOMAN who woke to find a friend sexually assaulting her felt “devastated and betrayed”, a court has heard.

Michael Dawe, 57, entered the woman’s home in Taunton one night in May this year and assaulted her while she slept.

Taunton Crown Court heard on Friday that when the woman awoke and realised what was happening, she asked him to stop and to leave her house, which he did.

Dawe was later arrested and made a “full and frank admission”, prosecutor Brian Fitzherbert told the court.

He added: “The defendant indeed revealed more of what had happened than the victim had been able to tell police.

“He said he had found her asleep and had fondled her breasts, pulled down her jeans and touched her sexually.”

Mr Fitzherbert said the woman had been “very distressed” by the incident.

He added: “She felt utterly devastated and a degree of betrayal.”

Patrick Mason, defending Dawe, said: “You could not find a man more willing to admit his wrongdoing and more sorry for what he had done.

“He is a man with considerable disadvantages, with a number of health problems.

“He lost an arm in an accident in his teenage years and has not worked for many years, although he hopes to work again.”

Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC said: “This is a highly unusual case. It’s clearly had a very substantial impact on her.

“Why you did it is not entirely clear. You are thoroughly ashamed of what you did and your remorse I accept is entirely genuine.

“The victim says the incident has left her utterly devastated, that a so-called friend could do this to her. She says she finds it hard to trust anybody. You will have to live with it, that you have done that to her.”

The court heard Dawe lives in supported accommodation in West Somerset, although his address was not revealed.

He was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a two-month curfew ordering him not to leave his home address between 7.30pm and 7.30am each night.