A MAN caused a woman to crash her car after he sexually assaulted her, a court heard.

Jonathan Frank Askell, of Mill Street, Puddletown, appeared in Bournemouth Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault, one count of interfering with a vehicle in a way which would endanger a road user, and one count of criminal damage.

The 51-year-old grabbed the woman inappropriately, ripping her dress and then caused her to crash her car at around 1am in Dorchester on October 31, last year.

Prosecuting, Leah Dillon, said the defendant and the victim were known to each other and had gone out for the night with friends and that it had been arranged that the victim would drive Askell home to Puddletown.

In the car, Askell started to touch the victim's hair and face saying she was 'really lovely' and asked her to pull over, cupped her face and tried to kiss her.

The court heard that the victim turned away and said 'we shouldn't be doing that' and said 'let's get you home'.

During the drive Askell told her to go the wrong way, she drove a short distance before realising and he said they should go back to Dorchester.

She said they needed to get some fuel and he put his hand on her thigh and tried to grab and gather up her dress.

Ms Dillon said the victim said she was 'scared' and 'freaked out' by his behaviour and continued to drive and said that he then became 'aggressive' and grabbed at her chest. The victim told Askell to get off her and the court heard that he ripped her dress.

As she drove and approached a slip road from the A35, Askell caused the vehicle to crash as she was driving. Ms Dillon said the airbags were deployed and that an ambulance passing stopped and officers attended.

The victim was said to be 'shaken' after the incident and photos of her injuries, which included bruises to her arms and neck, were taken.

The car, a Peugeot, was written off in the crash and the total compensation for damage caused to the car and to the victim's dress was said to be £2,470.

Mitigating, Lucie Taylor, said that Askell was a father-of-three and had a wife who still remained fully supportive of him.

Judge Robert Pawson said he had read that a paramedic said he didn't seem that drunk. However, Ms Taylor said that Askell was a 'functioning alcoholic' and had been heavily drinking at least half a bottle of vodka on any given evening at the time.

She said: "That does perhaps explain why a person could drink a large amount but come across compos mentis.

"This incident was a trigger for him. He is completely sober now and regularly attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

"He accepts that alcohol had control over his own life."

Judge Pawson, said he had read character references which described him as a 'family man' who had never been in trouble before.

Speaking to the defendant he said: "Jonathan Askell, you are 51 years of age. I don't know what possessed you last October in drink to sexually assault [the victim] and then cause the car to crash. You could have killed her, not to mention yourself."

The matter was deferred for sentencing for two months and Askell was told that if he continued to attend Alcoholics Anonymous, got £2,470 in compensation which could be paid to the victim, not commit any further offences and tried to obtain employment, then he would suspend Askell's sentence.

He said: "I'm going to defer your sentence for two months until Monday the 20th of June."

Askell was released under the bail condition that he does not contact, directly or indirectly, the victim.