A registered sex offender is back behind bars today after assaulting another young woman outside an Ipswich pub.

Marc Nickerson, of Birkfield Drive, Ipswich, was jailed for 24 weeks by the town’s magistrates after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a female.

The 33-year-old, who previously lived in Colchester, was still due to be on the sex offenders register until 2017 when he committed his latest offence.

He had previously been made subject to the requirements under the Sex Offences Act following a previous conviction at Chelmsford Crown Court in 2007.

However, in addition to his jail term Ipswich magistrates told Nickerson he must now remain on the sex offenders’ register until 2024.

As Nickerson listened to proceedings via a video link from Norwich prison his solicitor Matthew Swash remarked on his previous convictions saying: “They do make unsavoury reading.”

Mr Swash subsequently added that his client was “fearful of custody”.

Previously prosecutor Sandra Dyer had said: “This is not the first time he’s committed behaviour of this nature.”

She told the court the incident occurred at The Rep public house in Tower Street around lunchtime on September 23.

Nickerson had been drinking pints of Carling lager and had also consumed three Jagerbombs.

Magistrates heard he kept asking a young woman for a hug. He then groped her bottom before remarking “that was a nice hug”.

Nickerson was then said to have slapped his victim on the bottom, possibly on two occasions, before hugging her from behind with his hands around her waist and kissing her neck.

He did this on three or four occasions, the court was told.

Nickerson’s behaviour was described to the court as “sleazy”.

At one point he tried to put £5 in his victim’s bra.

Magistrates her she tried to run away, but he followed her and grabbed the waistband of her trousers as if he was going to put the £5 note down them. However, she grabbed his hand.

The victim then left the pub and became distressed.

In her victim personal statement which was read out to the court she said: “He’s made me feel disgusted. I feel disgusted every day”.

As well as his jail term and extension of his time on the sex offenders’ register Nickerson must pay £80 to the victims’ fund.