A Chiswick pensioner has seen the man who sexually assaulted her jailed after bravely giving evidence in court.

The vulnerable 78-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, still suffers panic attacks after being molested last summer.

She told how Mark Bowden, 27, from Putney, pounced on her in her home at some point between late July and early August last year. He was caught after DNA was found on a blanket at her home.

A friend of the victim said: "We are talking about an extremely frail and vulnerable woman, who was so traumatised by what happened that she was unable to report it for several weeks.

"By pleading not guilty her attacker forced her to go through a harrowing trial. She was incredibly strong to face him like that but it has been a very harrowing experience for her."

The trial began on Monday last week, at Isleworth Crown Court, and on the afternoon of October 23 the jury found Bowden guilty of sexual assault.

Judge McDowall sentenced him to one year in prison and ordered him to sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

The victim's friend said: "I was a little disappointed by the length of the sentence but very glad he is off the streets. His victim was very brave to come forward. People have a right to know when someone like this is living in their midst."