A sex offender who avoided justice for eight-and-a-half years before stalking his ex-partner has avoided an immediate jail sentence.

Billy Newman, of Eddington Hill, Crawley, attended the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Wednesday, May 22, for sentencing.

The 30-year-old previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on December 11 and a further charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress on March 16.

Tim Devlin, prosecuting, said on October 23, 2015, Newman and three friends spent the evening together, having dinner, drinking beers and watching pornography.

Later in the evening, Newman, who was 22 at the time, produced a 'penis pump' and placed it on his victim’s penis while he drifted in and out of sleep, said Mr Devlin.

The court heard that Newman then used the same pump on his other victim’s arm and chin, causing suction injuries.

Mr Devlin said both of Newman’s victims had learning difficulties.

Newman was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and ABH on October 29, 2015, and later charged in July 2016.

He was due to attend Worthing Magistrates’ Court later the same year but did not show up, and no warrant was issued for his arrest, said Mr Devlin.

Recorder Barry McElduff told Newman the “delay in bringing this matter to court falls on you.”

Eight years later, Newman was arrested for an unrelated matter, which alerted police to the outstanding charges, and he was remanded at HMP Albany Isle of Wight in November 2023.

The prosecution said that, while in the final days of his remand in prison, Newman began contacting the mother of his three children and continued to do so after he was granted bail on December 16.

Newman proceeded to make threats and send intimidating emails, messages and voice notes to his ex-partner, said Mr Devlin.

Mr Devlin told court Newman tracked down a woman who travels around the Isle of Wight, who knew his ex-partner and tried to find out where she was staying.

Newman claimed “it just so happened” that the woman was staying at the same Island caravan park as him, and he had not intentionally found her.

Court heard Newman stalked his ex-partner between December 12, 2023, and January 15, 2024.

Annabel Hazlitt, defending, regarding the sexual assault and ABH charges, said: “Mr Newman has had time to reflect on the consequences of his actions. An older man stands in the dock now.”

She said he has already served five months on remand at HMP Albany.

Recorder McElduff said Newman “waged a stalking campaign” and it was “persistent and prolonged behaviour” in breach of his bail conditions.

Newman was handed a five-year restraining order against his ex-partner.

He got an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for 21 months.

He must wear a monitoring tag.

“There will be no second chances. If you breach bail, you will be returning to Albany,” Recorder McElduff warned.