A SEX offender has been sent to a young offenders' institute for an indeterminate period today after being convicted of his second sexual offence in less than two years.

A SEX offender has been sent to a young offenders' institute for an indeterminate period today after being convicted of his second sexual offence in less than two years.

Patrick Greaves, 20, of Samuel Court, Ipswich, appeared at the town's crown court to be sentenced for assault by penetration on a 19-year-old woman.

Greaves was convicted of the offence in August after a trial lasting several days.

He was initially on trial in March for rape, false imprisonment and sexual assault charges and it was alleged that his friend, Sean Foster, had held back his victim's arms as Greaves assaulted her.

However he was acquitted of rape and false imprisonment and the jury failed to reach verdicts on the sexual assault charges.

A retrial was held in August and he was convicted of assault by penetration - an offence which happened in September 2005 at Greaves' mother's home in Berners Street.

Sentencing the 20-year-old today, Judge Peter De Mille said: “It was most likely that what you did to her was designed to humiliate her as much as give you sexual gratification. This is not the first time you have carried out sexual offences.

“You are a person who poses a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm.”

Judge De Mille sentenced Greaves to an indeterminate period in a young offenders' institute with the recommendation that he serve a minimum of two years in custody.

The court heard that Greaves had also been convicted of sexual touching in March 2005.

Foster, of Beaconsfield Road admitted two offences of sexual assault on the woman prior to Greaves' first trial in March.