mother in her bedroom, intending to rape her.

Edward Eugene Cumberbatch, 24, entered the woman's home after a night out drinking, Supreme Court heard yesterday.

She woke at 1.20 a.m. to find him standing above her bed, said Crown prosecutor Mr. Steve Harrison.

As the 28-year-old woman sat up, Cumberbatch grabbed her wrist.

She screamed and tried to pull away, but Cumberbatch told her to relax and not to fight.

He held her arms to the bed and straddled her, kissing her about the face. He then fondled her breasts and reached inside her underpants.

The woman's sons, aged two and eight, were sleeping in a nearby room. They woke at the sound of her struggling and shouted to her.

After the woman managed to turn on the bedroom light, Cumberbatch jumped from the bed and fled.

He was later arrested and taken to Hamilton Police station, where he admitted the offence. He told Police he knew the woman's address and because he was drunk went there to have sex with her.

There was "no history'' between Cumberbatch and the woman, Mr. Harrison told the court.

Cumberbatch, described as a butcher at Lindo's Market, yesterday pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rape on February 17.

The court heard he went to a school for students with learning disabilities.

He came from a good family. His victim lived not far from his Devonshire home.

His lawyer, Mr. Ed Bailey, suggested the greatest contributory factor to the offence was Cumberbatch's abuse of alcohol. He asked for social inquiry and psychological reports before sentencing.

Acting Chief Justice the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward agreed. But he said Cumberbatch, who had been on bail, would be remanded in custody because of the gravity of the offence.

"Normally one can expect a term of imprisonment to follow,'' the judge said.

But he would have to see the reports. He adjourned the case until November 1.