Woman terrified by Rishton sex attacker

3:48pm Monday 12th May 2008

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A woman suffered a frightening ordeal when she awoke in the early hours to find a man in her bedroom.

The intruder put a hand over her mouth, pushed her to the floor and ripped her clothes.

Cornelis Budding, 39, was given a 12 month prison sentence at Preston Crown Court.

But the time he has spent on remand effectively meant his immediate release.

Budding, of Chapel Street, Rishton , pleaded guilty to sexual assault. The court heard that he intends to return to his family in Holland.

The victim woke up in her Blackburn home at around 2am in November to find a man in her bedroom.

Miss Alex Simmonds, prosecuting, said Budding went on to put a hand over the victim's mouth and push her to the floor.

"She was gasping for breath and screaming when able to. The woman was very frightened , fearing that she would be raped," said Miss Simmonds.

Miss Rosalind Emsley-Smith, defending, said Budding had been assessed as a low risk of re-offending.

She said: "He did not, in fact, touch her in a sexual way.

"He is deeply ashamed of his behaviour. It was a temporary loss of control by him".