January 2014 Drunk double rapist with history of sex offences avoids jail after sex attack A DOUBLE rapist who drank 15 pints of beer before sexually assaulting a terrified woman in her own home has avoided a prison sentence. Alcoholic Alfred Priest, who was twice convicted of rape in the 1970s, followed the woman into her home in Wakefield before molesting her during the incident at around 5.30pm last December 6. Wakefield Magistrates’ Court heard that Priest, 61, of Duke of York Avenue, Portobello, Wakefield, had been drinking in a pub since 11am that day. The court was told the woman was left “shocked and shaken” by the assault. Bench chairman Graham Commons sentenced Priest to a three year community order with supervision and a 60 day activity requirement. He must do 150 hours unpaid work and pay £85 prosecution costs. Mr Commons told him: “You realise this could have been a custodial sentence.” Priest has previous convictions for rape, grievous bodily harm and criminal damage in 1976; indecent exposure in 1977 and rape in 1979. He was also convicted of having sex with a girl under 16 in 1985. Prosecutor Richard Ogden said Priest told police the woman “She looked terrified and needed to relax” during the assault. Mr Ogden added; “Mr Priest was arrested and in interview he agreed with the complainant’s version of events, saying he was drunk and in his words had got ‘a bit naughty.’” Mr Ogden said the woman told police in a victim impact statement: “The whole thing has left me shocked and shaken. He had no right to touch me in this manner. “His actions were unwanted, At one point I did think he would force himself on me.” Priest, had admitted one charge of sexual assault at a previous court hearing. Mitigating, Caroline Deacon said: “Having spoken to Mr Priest, it’s apparent that him having consumed the amount of alcohol that he did, which clearly was a lot on the day in question, that’s obviously affected his thinking skills. “It is right to say there has been a substantial gap in his offending. “It isn’t as serious as the matters he has recorded against him in the past.” Priest’s name will be on the sex offender register for five years.