A MAN who sexually assaulted a woman as she walked home has been jailed.

James Cooke followed a woman in her 40s as she walked home in Kemp Town at about 3am on September 11 last year.

She crossed the road several times to avoid him, but the 31-year-old grabbed her on the corner of College Place and sexually assaulted her.

A nearby resident called police after hearing the woman’s cries for help and Cooke fled the scene.

CCTV captured a man matching his description – later identified as Cooke – as he bought beers from a shop in St James’s Street.

Card details from the shop transaction linked the sale to Cooke and he was arrested by officers on October 6.

While in custody, Cooke admitted being the person in the CCTV and he was charged with assault on a female by penetration.

The Argus: James Cooke, of Peel Road, Brighton James Cooke, of Peel Road, Brighton

Following his guilty plea, he was sentenced to four years and eight months in custody, with an additional three years on licence.

Cooke, of Peel Road, Brighton, was also placed on the sex offenders’ register until further notice.

A restraining order was also put in place banning him from contacting the woman or entering Kemptown.

Investigating officer Detective Andy Scott said: “Women should be able to walk alone through the streets of Brighton and Hove, at any time of day or night, without the fear of being attacked by dangerous predators like James Cooke.

“This was a terrifying ordeal for his victim, who has shown incredible bravery in supporting the investigation and helping to put her attacker behind bars.

“Tackling violence against women and girls remains a key focus for us as a police force and this conviction should show that we will do all we can to bring perpetrators to justice and throw our full support behind victims, as well as taking proactive steps to prevent such crimes from happening and keep the public safe.”