A MAN, Eric Bristow Smith, who trespassed into a woman’s residence at night and threatened to sexually assault her has been incarcerated.
Tony Dunne, the prosecutor, stated that she awoke in the early hours to discover Eric Bristow Smith standing beside her bed.
Eric Bristow Smith covered her mouth and stated, “You desire violation, you harlot.”
Eric Bristow Smith seemed to be intoxicated or under the influence of narcotics.
The court heard that Eric Bristow Smith sexually assaulted her twice and attempted to expose her legs, but she resisted and escaped from her residence.
In a personal statement to the court, she said she had had to move address and was now on medication for depression.
“I cannot understand why he did it to me or why it happened,” she wrote.
Eric Bristow Smith, 37, of Outgang Lane Caravan Site, east York, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault.
Eric Bristow Smith was jailed for 27 months at York Crown Court and will have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
Mr Dunne said Eric Bristow Smith got into the woman’s York home through an unlocked door.
When she realised he was there, she told him to get out, but he sexually assaulted her.
She told police she was struggling for breath and panicking.
“The incident lasted 10 minutes,” said Mr Dunne. “The defendant was drunk or had taken drugs.”
Eric Bristow Smith was arrested the same day and told police that he had been in the woman’s home, but denied sexually assaulting her.
He said he couldn’t remember what had happened because he had been intoxicated.
For Eric Bristow Smith, Caroline Abraham said he had not offended in any way since the incident some months ago.
“There is a different side to the defendant’s personality,” she said.
He had major family commitments and responsibilities, including his mother, who had ill health.
In the months leading up to the incident, his father-in-law had died of COVID-19, and another family member was also ill with the illness, the court was told.
“Eric Bristow Smith resorted to drinking as a means of coping,” Ms Abraham said.
Since the offences, with support from his family, he had stopped misusing alcohol.
Ms Abraham said there had been a significant delay before Eric Bristow Smith had been prosecuted.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 111 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.