A report on a sexual assault case in Magistrates' Court incorrectly stated that lawyer Patricia Harvey requested a probation term for her client. Ms Harvey suggested a suspended prison term which was also recommended by Probation Services who, in its social inquiry report, also offered to assist the court further.

A 36-year-old Pembroke man with an "atrocious'' criminal past was yesterday sentenced to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a female employee at the Number One Shed on Front Street.

Patrick Lee Henderson had earlier pleaded guilty to the February 11 assault.

Court was told Henderson -- who was under the influence of alcohol at the time -- approached the woman about 9.20 a.m. as she was collecting cleaning supplies from a storeroom and verbally threatened, then physically assaulted her.

He was picked by Police a short time later and admitted the offence; he was subsequently identified in a Police line-up.

A plea for a sentence of probation by defence counsel Patricia Harvey was flatly rejected by Magistrate Edward King.

"The law takes a dim view towards this kind of crime which is revealed in the penalty,'' Mr. King told Henderson.

He also dismissed defence pleas that Henderson was acting under the influence of alcohol and is "intellectually slow.'' "Despite his intellectual slowness, he knows right from wrong and alcohol cannot be taken as an excuse although it may have been a contributing factor.'' Mr. King did concede the defendant had made attempts to rehabilitate himself and said this was taken into consideration in the sentencing.

"If he had not had a rehabilitation certificate I would have sent him to the Supreme Court (for sentencing).'' Crown counsel Leighton Rochester reminded the Court of Henderson's "atrocious'' criminal record and said such "serious offences affect not just the victim but all women in the community.'' He urged the court to levy a custodial sentence.