yesterday after he was found guilty of sexual assault and breaking and entering a woman's home.

Acting Senior Magistrate Edward King said he could not overlook the long-term relationship between the man and his two-time ex-wife when considering the sentence he should impose.

He gave the St. George's man a 12 month sentence suspended for two years for sexual assault of the woman on 17 May and a two month sentence for breaking and entering her home that night.

The man had pleaded guilty in Magistrates Court in June to causing the woman alarm by words or deeds between May 16 and 17 for which Mr. King sentenced him to three months in prison.

The defendant came to court with a knapsack and another bag -- apparently in preparation for a potential prison sentence.

Mr. King told the man: "Do you understand what I've done? Good! I hope you've learned your lesson.

"If you love somebody then sometimes you have to let them go,'' he added.

"Cast your net farther and wider from that woman.'' The man nodded and thanked Mr. King twice after the judgment was delivered.

Mr. King explained his sentencing decision: "I can't overlook the lingering relationship between you and the woman. Drugs and alcohol certainly contributed to your behaviour.

"I do not consider an immediate custodial sentence appropriate,'' he added.

"I impose suspended sentences, hoping that you will be deterred from re-offending.'' In a short judgment summary, Mr. King said the man had convicted himself by admitting he busted through the front door of her apartment and penetrating the woman before withdrawing when he found the woman was unresponsive.

"I've carefully scrutinised the evidence and there is no need for me to delve deeper into those waters,'' he said. "You admitted that you applied force to her person without consent and that act was for a sexual purpose.

"And you told of when she didn't open the door and wouldn't speak to you you broke the slats of the door and went through. I don't have to go any further.

"This is all out of your own mouth,'' Mr. King concluded. "You told the truth all the way. Whether you like this (the judgment) or not, you said what you did.'' While Crown Counsel Oonagh Goodred said while the maximum sentence is five years, she conceded that it might warrant imprisonment at the "lower end of the scale''.

Lawyer Richard Horseman represented the man at the trial.