A man who sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl has received a suspended sentence after being found guilty.

Mark Brown, of Epping Road, Nazeing, received the two-year prison sentence suspended for two years and was told to pay £1,500 towards prosecution costs at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday (December 4).

Brown, 43, is also required to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years.

He was alleged to have ‘tweaked’ the teenager's nipple inside her bra and to have strayed too far up her leg with his hand when giving her a massage in October last year.

Pleading not guilty to sexual assault, attempted sexual assault and exposure, Brown, who has no previous convictions, still maintained his innocence.

Judge Patricia Lynch QC told Brown she accepted the offences were out of character and happened over a very short period, against a background of “considerable emotional problems”.

She added: “There are various levels of sexual assault and although it cannot be excused, it often starts with horseplay and it's only as a child gets older and realises the repercussions, the psychological damage starts to kick in.”