Child abuse inmate jailed for earlier sex assault

Steven Winters admitted sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman

A man serving a jail term for sexually abusing two girls has been sentenced to a further two and a half years in prison for an earlier assault on a teenager.

Steven Winters, 47, performed a sex act upon the sleeping 19-year-old woman and then expressed surprise when he found out she was awake throughout, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He was jailed for five and a half years in February after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two girls under the age of 13.

Winters, from Blyth in Northumberland, admitted the assault on the teenager days before his trial.

The former lorry driver sexually assaulted the woman several years before he went on to abuse two girls, prosecutor Glenn Gatland said.

His older victim was awoken by Winters performing a sex act upon her but remained frozen with her eyes closed, the court heard.

She opened her eyes when he finished, prompting him to say "I didn't know you were awake", Mr Gatland said.

'Not her guilt'

In a statement read to the court, the woman said she felt guilty for not reporting Winters to police before he had the chance to go on and abuse others.

She said she felt like she had "failed" the other victims, adding: "That failure eats at me every day.

"It's not just the trauma from the assault, it's the responsibility like I should have done something more."

The woman said she was "living with the weight" of guilt but the guilt was not hers to bear.

Judge Sarah Mallett told Winters it was "awful" the woman felt guilty over his offending "as you and only you, are responsible".

The judge said Winters had caused "severe psychological harm" to his victim.

Winters had already been made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offender register for life for the assaults on the girls.