A man took advantage of a drunken woman who had passed out at a taxi office.

The victim had collapsed onto a seat near to Jason Payne who then carried out a "flagrant violation of a vulnerable woman".

And a judge at Canterbury Crown Court heard how as the woman slumped into the seat, she was sexually abused by the 47-year-old.

Now Payne, of Quex View Road, Birchington, has been jailed for three years after admitting the attack in July 2016.

Judge Simon James told him: “You targeted this young woman, who was a complete stranger to you.

"She was waiting in the taxi office for a cab to take her home.

“She had been drinking and fell asleep. And as she was effectively unconscious, and obviously in no position to consent, you sexually assaulted her.”

Prosecutor Christopher May told how the distressed victim woke up during the attack and slapped Payne before demanding the police were called.

The judge added: “I consider the fact she was assaulted in public to be an aggravating feature which could only have added to your victim’s degradation and humiliation.

“Her obviously drowsy and semi-conscious state meant she was particularly vulnerable – which you set out to exploit, doing so repeatedly and over a prolonged period.”

Payne only admitted the attack after police discovered CCTV and DNA evidence.

Jade Gambrill, defending, said Payne was drunk and the attack had been out of character.