An intruder broke into a woman’s home and sexually assaulted her as she slept on her sofa, a court heard.

The shocked woman woke up and ordered Samuel Miller to leave. He did but returned later after she had gone to bed.

He fled when she screamed so loudly neighbours heard her.

Miller, 30, then called police and claimed the woman had invited him into her flat in Sevenoaks.

Prosecutor Andrew Espley said the woman was wearing a dress when she arrived home from work in July last year. It was a hot day and she took off her tights which had "built-in" underwear.

After eating dinner she went to a shop to buy some wine. She drank about three quarters of the wine and fell into a deep sleep on the sofa.

The curtains were open but the windows were shut and locked.

"She woke up and realised there was a man’s head between her legs. She felt numb and shocked" - prosecutor Andrew Espley

"The next thing that happened was she woke up and realised there was a man’s head between her legs," Mr Espley told Maidstone Crown Court. "She felt numb and shocked.

"She said in a firm voice: 'Who are you?' She said 'Please get out' repeatedly. He didn’t say anything. He had a blank expression on his face.

"She began to guide him out of the flat. While doing so she noticed the door was open."
Mr Espley said the woman in some way felt responsible for what happened and did not immediately report it.

"She finds it a somewhat surreal experience because he had been expressionless and hadn’t been aggressive to her in any way," he continued.

About 90 minutes later she was in bed when she heard her windows rattling.

"She realised someone was trying to break in," said Mr Espley. "She was terrified at that point. She started to scream. She saw the defendant climbing through the window.

"She ran onto the street. She was barefoot. A couple of minutes later he emerged and said to her: 'You invited me in.' Some of the neighbours heard her screaming and went to help her."

When interviewed the victim did not at first mention the initial incident.

Miller, of St John’s Road, Sevenoaks, denied trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence and sexual assault but was convicted after a jury deliberated for almost 10 hours.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens adjourned sentence for reports until after March 9. Remanding Miller in custody, he said: "It is a serious matter."

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