A PERVERT who subjected a police worker to a sex attack has been sentenced to 200 hours community service.

Terry Cartwright, 20, who lives in Indigo Court, Westbury, touched the woman before exposing himself to her as she visited his home to investigate a break in.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court on Wednesday that in October 2005 Cartwright contacted the police to report a burglary at his former flat, in Drinkwater Close, Trowbridge. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, visited the flat to take a statement.

Cartwright was watching a porn film while the statement was being taken but was asked to switch it off. Miss Marlow said: "He purposefully rubbed her (the officer's) knee in what he later said was a deliberate attempt to turn her on."

Cartwright went onto make more lewd suggestions before letting the officer go when she threatened to call for help. He pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault. Michael Butt, defending, said his client had suffered a mental breakdown in 2003 and should ideally not have been living independently.

Cartwright was also given a three-year probation order and will have to register as a sex offender.