"the right to sleep without being sexually assaulted?"
Akash Krishna Shrestha, aged 25, of Bournemouth, was jailed for four and a half years after he crept into student accommodation and sexually assaulted a woman.
He also attempted to sexually assault another woman who lived in the same building.
The incident happened in September 2021.
Andy Houston, prosecuting, said Shrestha had recently graduated from Arts University Bournemouth.
Both victims had been in bed since about 11 pm. Shrestha crept into the student accommodation behind a group of people at around 5 am.
Mr Houston said: “[The victim] woke with the lights off, she had gone to sleep with them on.
“She saw a figure standing over her in her room. She had no idea how long he had been there.”
When Shrestha took off his trousers and underwear and got onto her bed, the victim tried to cover herself with the duvet.
Mr Houston continued: “She said ‘he squashed me into the corner, started kissing me and put his hands into my knickers’.”
The victim managed to escape and went to find a security guard.
Shrestha went into another room and pulled the blanket off another woman. She shouted at him and he left the room.
Shrestha admitted sexually assaulting a woman and trespassing with the intent to sexually assault.
In an impact statement, the first victim said:
“I want him to know how he has affected innocent people’s lives because he can’t control himself.
“I never deserved any of this.
“Because he thought it was okay to trespass into an innocent person’s home he took away their right to sleep safely, their right to privacy, to dignity and how about the right to sleep without being sexually assaulted?”
The second victim dreamt of studying in Bournemouth but Shrestha had “ruined” her experience.
In mitigation, Robert Grey read letters from Shrestha to his victims where he apologised and claimed his drink was spiked following a night out in Cameo nightclub.
He said this behaviour was “out of character” and his family describe him as “kind”.
At Bournemouth Crown Court, Judge Brian Forster QC said:
“The offences have had a considerable impact on the two victims.
“They were terrified at the time that the incident took place.”
“What has taken place has had a very significant impact on their day to day lives.
“They have understandably lost confidence. They have trouble sleeping, they fear for their safety.”
Shrestha was jailed for four and a half years, with an extended licence period of five years.
He will also have to notify as a sex offender indefinitely.
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