A man who dragged a terrified young woman into pub toilets and sexually assaulted her avoided being sent to prison after a judge decided it would be better for him to have mental health treatment.

Ryan Cooney was drunk and on drugs when he approached the teenager at the bar in Strood in June last year and told her: “Come and talk to me.”

The 28-year-old convicted robber said he wanted to speak to her in private. He took her by the arm and walked her into the disabled toilets.

“She describes feeling terrified because she was aware of his behaviour and characteristics,” said prosecutor Craig Evans.

“He tried to kiss her. She protested ‘No, no.’ He grabbed the back of her head and tried to kiss her three times.

“She pushed him away. He said: ‘I want to take this further.’

He pulled down his shorts and underwear and exposed himself to her.”

The woman’s boyfriend and the landlord rushed into the toilets and found her backed into a corner, crying and scared.

“He tried to kiss her. She protested ‘No, no.’ He grabbed the back of her head and tried to kiss her three times"-Prosecutor Craig Evans

When asked what was going on, Cooney, of Hilltop Road, Strood, replied: “She wanted it.” The situation became heated.

Cooney maintained his innocence after his arrest but eventually admitted sexual assault.

Mr Evans told Maidstone Crown Court that Cooney had 11 convictions for 21 offences including being jailed for two years in 2009 for robbing a prostitute.

He was cleared of attempted rape and sexual assault.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens was told Cooney almost died when he had to be rescued from a fire at a house in Queen Street, Chatham, last year.

Alex Cameron, defending, said: “He spent six weeks in a high dependency unit. He lost everything in that fire.”

Judge St John-Stevens said: “There is an underlying mental health problem which you recognise and are beginning to address. You realise the wrong you have done.

“You have got to address these problems rather than taking drink or drugs. You are not shy of working hard.

“It seems the public can be best served in the protection of future victims if you start undertaking treatment and rehabilitation.

Cooney was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years.

He will have to attend a sex offender programme and be on a tagged curfew for three months.

His name will appear on the sex offenders’ register and a restraining order was made barring him from the pub and contacting the victim.