A CHARITY worker, who headbutted a woman and broke her nose after sexually abusing her, has walked free from court.

Craig Evenden had been drinking heavily at a friend’s barbecue when the incidents happened on Saturday, May 26 last year.

But, after hearing the 30-year-old had pulled himself up from being homeless to become assistant project manager at the Swindon Food Bank, a judge decided not to jail him.

Instead he imposed a suspended sentence and told Evenden he must register as a sex offender for five years.

And Judge Douglas Field warned him if he breached the conditions of the order then he would face jail.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that during the course of the afternoon barbecue Evenden had been drinking.

Later that night he went into the room where the woman was sleeping and indecently touched her, causing her to wake up.

The pair then went downstairs where they argued before he head-butted her to the face, leaving her with a fractured nose.

Miss Hingston said that when he was interviewed by the police he accepted he was extremely drunk and could not remember all the details of the incident.

Evenden, of George Selman Gardens, Walcot, admitted actual bodily harm and sexual assault.

Rob Ross, defending, said his client was full of remorse for what he had done.

He said a number of character references had been submitted to the court from a variety of people, including some from his church.

“Craig Evenden had difficulties some years ago with alcohol,” he said. “He works at the Food Bank distribution as assistant project manager and they indicate when they first met him he was a food bank user: Sofa surfing and drinking too much.”

The judge said: “I am satisfied what happened that night was caused by you being drunk, but you ought to be ashamed of what you did. I think you are ashamed and you are showing remorse.”

He imposed a four-month jail term suspended for two years and ordered Evenden to undergo an alcohol treatment requirement, pay £250 compensation and register as a sex offender.