A MAN who sexually assaulted a vulnerable woman in a shed has been jailed for eight years.

Joshua Barton, 24, from Harrogate, was sentenced at York Crown Court on Monday, November 5, following a four day trial.

North Yorkshire Police said Barton had been socialising with a group of people in a pub in Harrogate town centre in the early hours of Saturday, June 17, and the group had all walked to the caravans at Bilton Lane together.

Barton said he would walk the victim home safely, but when they were on their own he took the woman into a nearby shed in Bilton Lane, and sexually assaulted her.

The victim managed to get away and run home and the police were called later that morning.

Detective Constable Fiona Saunderson, said: "Joshua Barton promised to keep a vulnerable victim safe but instead abused her trust and subjected her to a sustained sexual assault to satisfy his own selfish needs.

"The victim was terrified and is still haunted by what he has done, however she has been incredibly brave to come forward and see this matter through to court. Now that Joshua is behind bars where he cannot prey on anyone else I hope this will help the victim start to feel safe and be able to enjoy her life again."

Barton will also be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.