A MAN who took advantage of a 16-year-old girl by plying her with drugs and alcohol before sexually assaulting her has been spared jail.

Thuc Hung Dinh has been given a 10 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted sexually assaulting the girl in February 2018.

As previously reported, the 33-year-old found the victim walking alone when he offered her a lift home. She had drinking and smoking cannabis with her then-boyfriend and friends before leaving by herself.

Instead, he took her to a caravan in Old Basing owned by a friend where she was offered vodka and cocaine, prosecutor Mary Aspinall-Miles told the court at the start of a trial in July.

The friend, 34-year-old Gary Peter Ian Davidson, was acquitted of rape and sexual assault by a jury, whilst Dinh admitted sexual assault part-way through a trial.

Ms Aspinall-Miles had told Winchester Crown Court that the victim was "upset, alone, walking home drunk and vulnerable" and that Dinh, of New Bridge Lane, "took full advantage of that".

"Both of these men are considerably older than she was and significantly effectively strangers."

The victim had told the court that she woke to find Dinh sexually assaulting her.

Appearing before Winchester Crown Court on Monday for sentencing, Dinh was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He must also complete 20 rehabilitation activity days, as well as be under a curfew for six months.

Dinh will also be on the sex offenders register for the next decade.