A man from Gravesend who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl while she slept was jailed today (October 8) for two and a half years.

22-year-old Tommy Hoare, of Roehampton Close, was accused of assaulting the girl on three different occasions, between February 2010 and February 2011.

The victim reported him to Kent Police in November 2013. She was 14 at the time of the attacks.

Hoare was arrested on November 7, 2013, and denied the offences.

He was finally sentenced with three charges of sexual assault on July 24, 2014.

Hoare continued to deny the offences but was found guilty by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court on August 17 this year, after a five-day trial.

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Investigating officer DC Fleur Hardiesaid: "Hoare sexually assaulted his victim on three occasions while she slept and then continued to deny any wrongdoing throughout the trial.

"It takes a lot of courage to report incidents of a sexual nature and I am pleased Hoare's victim felt she could talk to the police.

"We have a team of specially trained officers who can provide support to victims.

"Hoare now faces the consequences of his actions and I hope this result shows others that we do take incidents seriously, no matter how long ago they happened."