A SWINDON man approached a 19-year-old woman in Fairford and fondled her breasts, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

Michael Page, 47, of Wells Street, Swindon, drove alongside the woman in his white van as she walked to work on June 8 last year.

First he asked the woman for directions and then engaged her in small talk before taking hold of her, putting his hand inside her t-shirt and groping her breasts, said Kannan Siva, prosecuting.

Page admitted a charge of sexual assault on the woman, but had a denied a charge of battery. The prosecution accepted his plea of not guilty and the charge was left to lie on the file.

Mr Siva said the woman ran away from Page after the assault. She burst into tears at work and felt shocked, cold and nervous, he said.

Two months later, in August, Page again spoke to the woman in Fairford. She walked away, somewhat frightened, said Mr Siva and Page drove after her, again leaving her scared to be on her own in the area.

The court heard that Page was a father of previous good character.

Rob Ross, defending, said the offence was committed out of ignorance, having misinterpreted the situation.

Mr Ross said Page could not believe he had put himself into this position and his appearance in court had ensured there was no chance of his re offending again.

Judge William Hart said the assault had been very unpleasant for the young woman concerned, and described it as an "act of folly" by Page.

He sentenced Page to a community order of 12 months' supervision, a curfew between 10pm and 5.30am for 10 weeks and to sign the sex offenders' register for five years. He was also ordered to pay £360 costs.