Hotel sex attacker jailed

A MAN convicted of sexually assaulting a sleeping woman in a Blackpool hotel has been jailed for 18 months.

Denis Carr's victim had woken during the night to discover that he was on top of her and clothing had been removed.

Carr, 60, from Dumfries, claimed at a Preston Crown Court trial that he thought she had been consenting to what took place at the Lancashire resort's Queens Hotel in September of last year.

But Carr was earlier convicted by a jury of two sex assault type charges.

Judge Robert Brown said "The incident has had a devastasting effect on the woman. It is clear the effect on her life, her health and her mental health has been far more than might be expected in the average case.

"These offences are so serious, in my view, that only a custodial sentence is appropriate."