A MAN who sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl has been jailed for 18 months.

Colin Gale, 23, of Edmunds Road, Banbury, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after admitting one charge of sexual assault on the girl in October.

His victim cannot be named for legal reasons.

Shan Sanders, prosecuting, said during the assault Gale had held the girl down and put his hands over her mouth to stop her screaming.

Miss Sanders said the girl was very scared at the time, and had been left deeply shaken by the incident.

Lucy Tapper, defending, said Gale was a man of limited understanding and intellect, and had misread signals from the girl. She said Gale accepted what he had done was wrong.

The court heard he had a previous conviction for an indecent assault in 1996.

Judge Anthony King told Gale he was concerned that he could be a danger to women. In addition to the 18-month prison sentence, Gale was put on an extended licence for three years and was banned for five years from any work involving the supervision of a woman under the age of 16.

He was also told that when he is released from prison he must register his address with police.