Pervert jailed after sex attack on sleeping woman
AN “opportunistic” pervert has been jailed after he sexually assaulted a female following a card game, a court heard.
John Poles, 53, took advantage of his victim after she had consumed alcohol and cannabis, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The victim visited Poles with a friend on October 16, 2020, having arranged to “go for a smoke and play cards”, said prosecutor Howard Searle. After a period of time, the victim’s friend fell asleep but she continued playing cards with the defendant.
They played four rounds and chose to do a “final deciding round”. Mr Searle said the defendant then “put his hand under the table” – which the victim first took as flirting.
Following the game, the victim fell asleep having been “tired and drunk”, the court was told. The prosecution said she then felt someone “touching her leg” and saw Poles.
Mr Searle said the victim “froze” and described her body feeling like “clay”.
He said the defendant proceeded to sexually assault her.
During the ordeal, the court heard Poles was talking to the victim’s friend to see if they were awake. Poles then sexually assaulted the victim for a second time.
The police were alerted about the incident after it happened and Poles was interviewed the next day, the court was told. DNA swabs were also taken as part of the criminal investigation.
A victim impact statement was read out to court, which said the victim has been “hurt” by the incident. She also suffers “nightmares” due to what happened.
The sentencing judge, HHJ Gosling, described Poles as “opportunistic” and highlighted how the victim has had to wait two years for justice.
Poles was sentenced on four counts of assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault. He was awarded 15 per cent credit for his guilty pleas.
As a result, Poles, from Sandwell, was jailed for a total of seven years and eight months.
He was told he will be eligible for release on license after two-thirds of his sentence is passed and he must register as a sexual offender.