A REPEAT sex offender from Clydebank who crept into a woman’s bedroom and sexually assaulted her while she slept has been jailed for 18 months.

Christopher Torrance, 35, committed the offence between July 1, 2016, and August 31, 2016.

He was put on the sex offenders’ register in 2015 and was to be on it until 2022 before he committed his third sex crime in 2016.

Now he will stay on the register indefinitely – and he will be on supervised release for two years beyond his jail sentence.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard in October how Torrance sexually assaulted a 29-year-old woman by touching her private parts.

The court was previously told he had been invited to the flat in John Knox Street for drinks and was playing a computer game until 2am.

Prosecutor Kevin Doherty told the court last month: “The woman went to bed and was naked in bed. Her partner also went to bed. Both were sleeping.

“Torrance went into the bedroom and went underneath the bottom of the covers. She woke up, distressed as to what had happened.

“She kicked out at her partner who woke up. Torrance was still at the bottom of the bed and his hands were still underneath the covers.

“She was shaking, crying and in hysterics.

“The matter was not reported to police immediately.

“Torrance was finally interviewed by police on June 19, 2018.”

Last week, defence lawyer Ian Brechany told the court: “He has very little recollection of the events and can offer very little by way of explanation for his behaviour.

“Not withstanding the seriousness, he has shown proper empathy to his victim.

“He does not blame alcohol. He knows it is his fault.

“I have said from the outset he can expect a lengthy custodial sentence. I would ask the court to take into account the timing of his plea and the time already spent in custody.”

Sheriff Simon Pender told Torrance, who was listed in court papers as an inmate at Barlinnie Prison: “This is an extremely serious matter, particularly since you are on the sex offenders register and this is your third sex offence.

“I take into account you pleaded guilty at the first diet stage and have been in custody since June 20.

“But given your record the public need to be protected from you.”

Torrance was jailed for 18 months, backdated to June 20, and will spend a further two-year ‘extended sentence’ on licence when he is eventually released, the terms of which will be set by Scottish ministers.