A man was warned he faces a lengthy prison sentence after he admitted sexually assaulting a woman.

Appearing before Swindon Crown Court on Friday afternoon, John Goble, 46, of Castle View, Westbury, admitted three counts of sexual assault by penetration. The offences were all committed in Westbury on May 26 last year.

Mark Worsley, defending, asked the judge to order the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

His client was 46-years-old and of previous good character. He had experienced a tragedy around four years earlier, the nature of which was not explained to the court.

“It doesn’t forgive, but it is important mitigation,” the barrister said. His client was under no illusions about the likelihood of a prison sentence, but Mr Worsley asked the judge for time so the man could get his affairs in order.

Bailing Goble to return to court for sentence on October 28, Judge Peter Crabtree said: “You’ve pleaded guilty to serious offences, the inevitable consequence of which is custody.”

As a now convicted sex offender he was ordered to report within three days to his nearest police station to give officers his details so he could be added to the sex offenders’ register.