A Carlisle window cleaner has been jailed for sexually assaulting a woman in her own home.

Brian Earl, 37, of Beverley Rise, was sentenced to two years and four months today at Carlisle Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexual assault at an earlier hearing.

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years. ​

The sentence follows an incident on Sunday September 4 last year, after Earl banged on the door of the victim’s Carlisle home at 3.30am.

Recognising him as her window cleaner, she shouted out of the window to ask what he wanted. He claimed he wanted money owed to him for window cleaning.

The victim, in her 60s, went downstairs to hand Earl the money and he managed to force his way into her property, where he sexually assaulted her.

Police Constable Dawn Grant said: "This was a terrifying ordeal that left the victim severely distressed. Earl’s actions have completely changed the level of trust that the victim places in people, which is extremely sad.

"I am pleased that he has today been put behind bars where he can no longer take advantage of anyone else.

"I hope that the sentence brings some form of closure to the victim, who bravely helped police and the courts ensure that her attacker was brought to justice.

"Cumbria Police takes all reports of sexual assault seriously and will continue to work hard to ensure that predators such as Earl are taken off our streets."