THE Droitwich manager of a fish and chip shop has been jailed for 18 months for a sex attack on a young woman.

Sukhjit Singh was found guilty after a four day trial in June at Worcester Crown Court, where he was sentenced on Friday.

His barrister, Jason Aris, said 35-year-old Singh, of Four Oaks Furlong, Droitwich, still did not accept that he was guilty.

Judge Robert Juckes QC, who conducted the trial, said that the victim had been confronted by Singh, who had tried to kiss her and then groped her. She eventually got free but had been terrified by the incident, said the judge.

The experience made her have a breakdown and her mother went to the police. Her ordeal was worsened when she had to give evidence at the trial. She had made a statement that the experience had destroyed her confidence.

Mr Aris, who submitted several references, said that Singh had recently married his fiancée and they had a child.

His wife was standing by him and he had been assessed by the probation service as a low risk of further offending. His client was of previous good character.

The judge, who said he was surprised by the high regard given in some of the references, ordered Singh to sign the sex offender register for 10 years.