A man has been jailed for trying to rape a 13-year-old girl in her bedroom.

A judge jailed martial arts instructor Adrian Hubbard, 30, of Rickstones Road, Witham, for six years.

After the sentencing hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, investigating police officer Det Con Sharon Joiner said the victim, her family and police were pleased with the outcome of the case and the sentence.

She said: "Justice has been done and the people of Witham can sleep safer at night as a result of this case."

Hubbard had denied a charge of burglary with intent to rape but was convicted after a trial by jury. He still claims he is innocent.

Passing sentence, Judge Gareth Hawkesworth told him: "You pose a real and significant danger to women."

Hubbard was jailed for six years but the judge extended his licence for ten years.

This means if he offends within that time, he will be recalled to prison.

The court had heard how Hubbard, who taught at the Black Tiger Kung Fu club in Witham, had tried to rape the girl after climbing into her bedroom at her Witham home on June 10 last year.

Hubbard claimed during his trial that he was at home in bed at the time of the incident.

But the court heard a psychiatric report showed he now admitted going out that night looking for a house to burgle.

Matthew Gowen, mitigating, said Hubbard still denied attempting to rape the teenager.

"He thinks he has been wrongly convicted of this offence and harbours some resentment about it," Mr Gowen said.

Published Tuesday, April 29, 2003

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