AN offender who carried out a series of sexual assaults in the space of a day has been spared being sent to prison.

Florin Niculcea admitted carrying out the shocking crime on three occasions the same day, as well as being in possession of drugs.

The 25-year-old appeared before Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Monday, October 31, to face three charges of sexual assault, as well as sole counts each of possessing a class B drug and disorderly behaviour with intent.

But magistrates concluded that he would not be heading to custody due to his ‘prospect of rehabilitation.

Tanya Berridge-Burley, prosecuting, explained how the offences all occurred on October 4 this year.

Niculcea, who court documents state had been living on Rylands Drive in Orford in during court proceedings, intentionally touched a woman in a sexual manner without her consent on three occasions.

He also admitted using threatening, abusive, disorderly or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause a woman harassment, alarm or distress.

Moreover, he was found to be in possession of a quantity of the controlled class B drug amphetamine.

Before sentencing, magistrates remarked that the offences of a ‘series’ of sexual assaults were ‘so serious’ that only a custodial sentence could be justified.

However, taking the defendant’s guilty pleas into account and referencing his ‘realistic prospect of rehabilitation’, they decided that the custodial sentence could be suspended.

Niculcea, whose address in court on the day of sentence was instead given as Home Farm Avenue in Macclesfield, was sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for two years.

He must also complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 35 days of the Horizon sex offence prevention programme.

As well as being made to comply with sex offender notification and registration requirement for seven years, he was ordered to pay £400 in compensation, costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £120 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £154

In addition, magistrates approved an application for the forfeiture and destruction of the amphetamine seized.