A PERVERT who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl while she was asleep has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.

Manchester Crown Court heard Simon Fitzgerald, 29, of Otter Drive, Bury, engaged a 14-year-old girl in a horrific sex act after she fell asleep while watching TV.

Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to the offence, and intimidation of a witness. On one occasion, he shouted through the letterbox of the victim’s mother and placed a can of petrol on her doorstep in efforts to intimidate her, the court heard.

He pleaded guilty to both offences during a trial on March 1, despite previously denying the allegations.

Mark Kellett, prosecuting, told the court: “The act went on for about five minutes before the defendant left. The victim pretended to be asleep once she realised what was happening.”

Paul Treble, defending, said: “There was a disparity in age - she was 14 and he was 27 at the time. But it wasn’t as if he was in his late 50s for example.

“It takes a lot of courage to take responsibility for offences, and I think it’s important that his guilty pleas are acknowledged.”

Treble added that Fitzgerald is now clean from drugs despite having problems in the past, and that he realises the seriousness of his actions.

Judge Timothy Smith jailed the defendant for 56 months and told the court: “The remorse that you maintain now and your guilty pleas are your best defence.”

Fitzgerald has also been issued with a restraining order to ensure he does not approach the victim or her family in the future.

He will also be bound by a sexual health prevention order - meaning he will not be allowed to stay in the same house as a child under 16 unless social services approve.