A FORMER Birkenhead bingo caller who sexually assaulted a woman he met on a night out begged a judge for mercy this afternoon after being jailed for five and a half years.

Alan Ward, 63, had been convicted by a jury of three offences of sexual assault after a trial during which he claimed the victim had fabricated the DNA evidence against him

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said that his denials meant the victim had to go through the additional ordeal of a trial and he described his claims that she had manipulated the forensic evidence as "cynical and malicious."

He told Ward, who walks with a stick, that he took into account his deteriorating physical condition, but imprisonment was inevitable and his offending meant he was categorised as a "person of particular concern" resulting an an additional 12 months licence.

Ward, who was on the verge of tears, began incoherently imploring the judge not to send him away repeatedly saying "please your honour" and pointed out that he has fractured ribs which will be adversely affected with him behind bars.

The judge ordered Ward, who was convicted after just two hours jury deliberations, to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and imposed an indefinite restraining order to keep away from his victim.

He said that it had been a sustained sexual incident which had had a "severe psychological impact" on the victim.

Referring to Ward's internet search history Judge Trevor-Jones said he "clearly had an interest" in particular sexual activities.

Ward, of Greenway Road, Tranmere, had also faced a charge of possessing 1,078 extreme pornographic images, which he denied and this was left to lie on the file.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that on the evening of September 5, 2015, the woman was in a pub in Birkenhead, as was the defendant.

Ward - who had been running a charity stall outside the premises earlier that day - and the woman, whom he knew but had "barely met" spent the evening drinking together and at one stage he suggested that he pass her off as his girlfriend.

He persuaded her to go back to his flat to eat a kebab and drink coffee before calling her a cab.

But back at his home he performed three acts of sexual activity involving penetration.

Ben Jones, prosecuting, said that the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, reported the matter to the police two days later.

In a victim impact statement she said how "used to be a very social person and an out-going personality and now very much changed and feels very paranoid and over-protective of her children."

She stated that her "behaviour and moods have become erratic when she thinks about these events.

"She has flashbacks and has taken anti-depressant medication."

Mr Jones said: "She expresses the wish that he understands what he has done to her."

Jeremy Hawthorn, defending, said that he is being treated at various hospitals for his health problems and while in the Walton Centre in January and February it had been thought he would be unfit to stand trial but it was concluded that his intellect was fine.

He is now only using one crutch instead of two but takes 23 tablets a day for his on-going conditions including progressive neuropathy, hepatitis C and spinal problems.

After being a bingo caller in Birkenhead he was a postman in Weston-Super-Mare for nine years but after twice slipping on ice he suffered spinal injuries and moved back to Wirral.

He has not worked since but took part in charity events, said Mr Hawthorn.