Police have expressed their relief that a woman who was sexually assaulted in her own home will not need to re-live her experiences during a trial, as her attacker admitted to the crime.

Robert Jennings, 63, of Shackleton Road in Ipswich, was warned he faced an “inevitable” jail term when he is sentenced later this month over the assault, which tooke place in Nacton on February 13.

Jennings pleaded guilty at a preliminary hearing at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday to charges of sexual assault and burglary.

Roger Thomson, for Jennings, acknowledged his client was facing a lengthy custodial sentence.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Inspector Eamonn Bridger, senior investigating officer, said: “Jennings was identified as a possible suspect after police received information from the local community and he was arrested a short time later.

“He made a comment to arresting officers that indicated he had been inside the victim’s home but in interview he gave ‘no comment’ responses to questions asked.

“The victim, who has been extremely brave and a good witness throughout, gave police a comprehensive account of what had happened and then went on to pick Jennings out of an ID parade.

“We are pleased that the fact he has pleaded guilty means she will not have to go through a trial and would like to thank her for all her assistance.

“We’d also like to thank those who passed on information that helped the investigation team make the arrest. This team then worked quickly to gather the evidence to prosecute Jennings, resulting in his guilty plea.”

The case was adjourned until the week commencing March 30 for a pre-sentence report and Jennings was remanded in custody.

Judge David Goodin told Jennings the offences he had admitted were serious and a custodial sentence was inevitable.