A MAN has been jailed for two years following a sex assault on a teenager in Colchester.

Matthew Davies claimed the assault on a 17-year-old student never took place, but he was convicted after a trial.

Davies, 36, from Lincoln Way, Colchester, was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday, by judge David Goodin at Ipswich Crown Court.

The trial, at Chelmsford Crown Court, heard the 17-year-old was on her way home on December 3 when she was approached by Davies near the East Gates level crossing.

He asked her to go back to his house for a drink, but she refused and carried on walking.

Davies continued to follow her and carried out the sex assault when she refused a second invitation He told the jury he had no sexual contact with anyone that night, but the court heard DNA from the teenager matched a sample taken from the hand of Davies.

The jury also heard while the incident happened, the teenager’s former boyfriend had phoned her and heard a man’s voice asking her whether she wanted to go to a hotel, or if she wanted sex.

In another call a short while later, the man said the teenager sounded scared. He called the police after the phone went dead.