A Suffolk detective has described a man as a "predator" after he was jailed for three years for sexually assaulting a woman in Ipswich. 

Detective Constable Liam Theobald,  of the South Safeguarding Investigation Unit, said "women should feel safe to go out and walk home" as the force continues to prosecute sex offenders. 

During his trial, it was heard that Alazar Yohans kissed the victim without her consent inside Bar Twenty One while she was on a night out with her boyfriend on October 1 last year. 

Yohans left the bar with a friend and loitered in the area before following the victim and her boyfriend as they left shortly after. 

When the victim and her boyfriend became separated, Yohans and his friend continued to follow her to the area of Luther Road and Rectory Road. 

CCTV evidence picked up audio of the victim telling Yohans to "leave me alone" near an address in Rectory Road. 

Yohans approached her and put his hands down her trousers and was later charged with three counts of sexual assault.

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Following a four-day trial, he was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and was found not guilty of a third charge. 

Yohans had also claimed to be 18-years-old, but the Home Office determined that he is aged between 27 and 32 years old

On Wednesday, April 17 he was sentenced to three years imprisonment, of which he will serve half and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

He may also face deportation. 

Detective Constable Liam Theobald said: "Alazar Yohans' behaviour can only be described as that of a predator.

"Not content with forcefully kissing the victim inside the bar, his very deliberate actions of following her as she walked home and then waiting for her to be on her own before subjecting her to an even more serious sexual assault clearly demonstrate his mindset. 

"I would like to pay tribute to the victim for her bravery and commitment to working with us throughout the investigation to ensure we achieved this conviction, and also thank the Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) who supported the victim through this process.

"Women should feel safe to go for a night out and walk home without being subject to attacks such as this.

"I hope this outcome underlines Suffolk police's commitment to prosecuting sex offenders and also that it will encourage anyone else who is a victim of this type of offence to come forward."