pleading guilty to sexual assault.

Mervin E. Lambe, 33, of Radnor Close, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court just as his trial was set to begin.

Lambe, who was represented by lawyer Renee Foggo, has been on remand at Westgate Correctional Facility since September.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Anthony Mouchette said Lambe broke into the Hamilton Parish house of the victim on September 2 at 5.30 a.m.

The victim told Police she awoke to find Lambe fondling her at which time she ordered him to leave.

The victim followed Lambe out and called out to him. It was at that time she recognised Lambe as a man who lived nearby.

She called Police and Lambe was arrested the next day and taken to Hamilton Police Station where under caution he denied the incident.

But yesterday Lambe changed his not guilty plea. And Ms Foggo asked Magistrate Edward King for a sentence of 18 months to two years.

She also asked that he be ordered to take part in the sexual offenders rehabilitation programme at Westgate.

However, Lambe indicated he had already applied to the programme. Ms Foggo also asked that sentencing be postponed until a psychiatric report was carried out on her client.

But Mr. King refused, saying while Lambe was "well known to these courts'', he did not see the need for such a report.

Mr. King said out of the 18 previous offences Lambe has faced since 1981, only one was for sexual assault.

"The penalty must fit the crime,'' Mr. King added, "an immediate custodial sentence is warranted and nothing less.'' Lambe showed no emotion as Mr. King sentenced him to three years in prison for the sexual assault.

Mr. King also refused Ms Foggo's request that Lambe's time on remand be taken into account.

And he said: "I could have given him five years in prison (which is the maximum for such a crime).''