A man from Braintree has been jailed for three years after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenager.

Michael McClements, 58, of Chelmer Road, Braintree, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday, September 11, where he was placed on the sex offenders register for life and was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

McClements was found guilty of sexually assaulting a female following a four-day trial at Ipswich Crown Court, which concluded on Friday, July 28.

On the weekend of Saturday, February 13, 2016, McClements assaulted the teenage victim.

The victim reported the crime and police arrested him the following day.

Investigating officer DS Emma Portfleet said: “McClements seriously assaulted a teenage girl, which he has denied to police throughout the investigation and his trial.

“The victim has shown an enormous amount of bravery, even when McClements pleaded not guilty to the offence and forced her to relive her ordeal through the courts.

“I would like to thank the victim for her courage and thank officers from our Child Abuse Investigation Team for their work in bringing McClements to justice.”