This is Sussex --A PORN addict sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl while she was on the phone to her mum, after following her as she made her way home from the cinema.
Steven Fern, 48, has been jailed for three years for the terrifying attack, which was committed in The Ridings, in Worth.
As the dad was sentenced last Wednesday, Chichester Crown Court heard his teenage victim thought she was going to be raped but was able to fight him off.
Fern had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault.
Minutes past midnight on August 10 last year he attacked the girl, whose identity is protected, as she walked alone.
Jonathan Davies, prosecuting, said: "She was making her way home having been to the cinema with her friend in Crawley.
"While walking, she was on the phone to her mother and they discussed the route she should take.
"During that time she saw a white BMW driving up and down; it drove past her twice in Worth Road for example.
"Steven Fern had observed her making her way home and decided to follow her.
"The victim saw the same car again in Turners Hill Road where it stopped to pull over but the driver then moved off again.
"As she continued into The Ridings the girl was still on the phone to her mother and heard footsteps behind her.
"It sounded as though the person was in a hurry and she turned around.
"At first she thought the man wanted directions but he grabbed her around the neck with one hand and, using his other hand, roughly grabbed her vaginal area. It was at this point the girl thought Fern was going to rape her."
Mr Davies said the girl screamed, was "crying down the phone to her mum" and pushed him back.
He added: "Fern reacted by throwing the victim to the floor causing her to smack her head on the pavement and bruise her elbow.
"While she was still on the ground Fern tried to grab her and pull her up her clothing but the victim managed to kick him in the shin.
"She was worried Fern was going to try and drag her back to his car.
"After being kicked and hearing the girl scream, Fern ran back to his car."
The court head that the victim then had a panic attack, as her mother made her way to find her.
Mr Davies said: "The mother remembers hearing her daughter scream down the phone 'mum I'm being attacked, he has touched me'."
Police were called and a description of the white BMW the girl had seen following her was given.
Using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras in the area officers identified the car and found it was registered to Fern.
By 2am police were knocking on his door, in Bonehurst Road, Horley, but they had to wait almost an hour for him to answer.
Mr Davies added: "Fern admitted in police interview he had used and abused drugs for many years, taking both cocaine and cannabis, and this had got worse since the breakdown of his marriage.
"On that Friday night he had gone to the pub after work and went home at 8pm having bought a quantity of cocaine.
"It was a sexual relief because he would take it and masturbate while watching porn.
"The drug gave him a bigger rush than normal on that night and Fern found himself in his car with the intention of looking for a female to flash.
"He wanted to do it for the thrill, which he no longer got from watching porn.
"Fern watched the girl and decided he wanted to have physical contact with her so he got out his car and hid in the bushes, waiting for her to pass before coming out.
"Fern admitted he had these urges before but previously managed to control them."
Beverley Cherrill, defending, said Fern is "extremely" remorseful for his actions and has lost his job at Gatwick Airport, with his company car also seized, as a result of his actions.
"This offence was caused in a large part by the way he handled the stresses in his life," she said.
"The defendant has turned to alcohol and drug abuse while also having an unhealthy interest in pornography.
"He has been in custody already for five months and has had the opportunity to address these three risk factors.
"He doesn't have access to alcohol or pornography and has voluntarily had drug tests which have all come back clean.
"He has written a letter to the victim. It is very sensitive and understanding which shows the court he is very remorseful for what he has done."
During sentencing Judge Claudia Ackner told Fern he had put his teenage victim through a "terrifying ordeal".
She said: "The trauma you put your victim through was truly appalling.
"She is now petrified to walk anywhere alone, no matter what time of day, be it light or dark. If she takes the bus her mum has to meet her at the stop.
"She has had to leave college because she has lost all confidence.
"She has to take sleeping pills, attend counselling sessions and in her own words this has ruined her life."
Fern has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Reported by This is 2 days ago.