A man has been jailed for sexually assaulting a woman he passed in the street.

His victim first noticed Laszlo Mezei as he passed her walking along the Sutton Road in Maidstone.

Later as she walked down Loose Road towards the junction with Armstrong Road, she saw Mezei again, exposing himself.

He then committed an indecent act in front of her, grabbed her shoulder and pulled her towards him.

She shouted at him and he walked off. Although in distress, she was quick thinking enough to take photos of him.

She then phoned a relative for support.

While she was waiting for the relative to arrive, she saw Mezei on two further occasions.

Once when he beckoned to her to come over and a short while later when he was seen laughing at her.

After the police were alerted to the incident, officers searched the area and arrested Mezei, of no fixed address, near Mote Park.

The incident happened on May 29.

Mezei, 41, pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and indecent exposure, but was convicted after a three-day trail at Maidstone Crown Court.

He was sentenced yesterday to 12 months in prison.

'She showed presence of mind'

Detective Constable Darren Ousby, of Maidstone’s Vulnerability Investigation Team, said: "Mezei is a predator who planned where to commit these offences.

"He showed no consideration for his victim who was extremely distressed by his actions.

"However, in spite of her ordeal, she showed the presence of mind to take photographs of him on her phone.

"This ensured we were able to bring this man to justice and I would like to commend the victim and the other witnesses for their assistance."

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone