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A CONVICTED sex offender and former scaffolder could be jailed indefinitely after being found guilty of sneaking into a pensioner’s home and indecently assaulting her.
Wayne Stephenson, 24, was found guilty of carrying out the sickening attack on the woman in her 60s after a three-day trial at Teesside Crown Court.
The jury of four men and eight women took just three hours to reach their unanimous verdict.
The Hartlepool victim told the trial how she awoke to feel a pressure on her chest and discovered Stephenson had removed her blankets and part of her clothing.
She said she thought she was having a nightmare at first before realising it was real.
Stephenson had crept inside the widow’s home and began to indecently assault her.
But after a struggle, she managed to get free and talk to Stephenson.
She said he would get “no pleasure” from her.
Stephenson had spent the night drinking after an argument at home with his mum and he stormed off.
He told police he was in bed from around 2.30am and was joined later by his girlfriend.
But it was proved during the trial that he had been in the town centre until around 4am and that his girlfriend had met him in the street shortly after the attack took place.
On Tuesday, the jury was told that Stephenson was convicted of indecently assaulting a 45-year-old woman in April 2007.
On that occasion, he approached the stranger in a street, pinned her against a wall, and put his hands up her skirt before she screamed and ran away.
The former scaffolder is now facing an indefinite jail sentence and will be assessed over what danger he poses to the public.
Judge Peter Fox said: “As you would expect, I am in particular concerned over the previous conviction.
“I have in mind an indefinite sentence of imprisonment for protection of the public, but I’m not going to pre-judge this matter.”
Stephenson, of Grange Road, Hartlepool, was convicted of trespass with intent to commit sexual assault and sexual assault, both on November 6.
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on April 1.
