Edward Felix 44

Description

A sex offender groped a naked woman at a house in Derby just three months after being released from prison for carrying out the exact same offence.

Derby Crown Court heard how Edward Felix “took advantage of the situation” when he sexually assaulted his latest victim at a property in Darley Abbey.

The 39-year-old, who was previously jailed for touching a different victim and taking photographs of her private parts, then “pretended to fall asleep”.

His latest victim, who suffers anxiety, left the property immediately and Felix then sent a text message the following morning apologising for what he did.

She now locks the door to her own home when she is left alone there and has increased her medication, the hearing was told.

'Back to your old ways'

Jailing Felix for 18 months, Judge Shaun Smith QC said: “In March 2018 you were released from a custodial sentence which was imposed for offences of voyeurism, sexual assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm and, within three months, you were back to your old ways again.

“This woman was at that house and felt ill.

“She was in a room under the covers and naked and you took advantage of the situation.

“You started by stroking her hair, moved your hand up to her rib cage and then she was aware of you groping her left breast.

“She moved away but you stroked her stomach and then moved your hand towards her genital area.

“She had the presence of mind to ask you what you were doing and, instead of apologising, you pretended to fall asleep.

“She wanted to leave and went to a friend's house. The following morning, you admitted you stroked her in places you should not have stroked her.

“You sent a text message saying you were sorry.”

Sarah Slater, prosecuting, said the offence took place in June of last year at a property in Darley Abbey.

She said Felix, of Cropper Lane, Oslaston, Ashbourne, had been out drinking and a number of people then found their way back to the address.

While there, the victim began feeling ill and so went to one of the rooms, undressed and got into bed.

Miss Slater said Felix entered the room, got under the covers and started stroking the woman’s hair.

Cupped her breast

She said: “He put his hand under the duvet and she felt him direct his hand to her rib cage and then cup her left breast.

“She did not know what to do and so moved away but then felt his hand on her stomach and then moved down towards her pubic area.

“She said to him ‘what are you doing?’ and he pretended to fall asleep.”

Miss Slater said the woman left the property and, the following morning, Felix sent a text message which read “I really am so sorry”.

In a victim personal statement, the woman told how she feels “jumpy and dirty” if someone touches her and locks all of the doors at her own property when her boyfriend is not in.

Felix was arrested and at first denied anything had happened at the house in Darley Abbey.

But he later pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault.

Miss Slater said he was jailed for 22 months in March 2017 after taking intimate photographs of a woman’s private parts and showing them to his friends.

Julia King, mitigating, said her client was back living with his parents and has admitted himself to Aquarius, which is based in London Road, Derby, and helps people with alcohol and drugs issues.

She said: “Without minimising the seriousness of the offence, there is no significant planning and no violence was involved.

“He has reached the realisation he has a real problem which he needs to address.”

Judge Smith said although the probation service recommended Felix would benefit from a three-year community order, which was also urged on him by Miss King, he would be “failing in his public duty” if he did not send him into immediate custody.

He also placed him on the sex offender’s register for 10 years and handed him a 10-year restraining order not to contact the victim directly or indirectly.