A CUSTOMER who sexually assaulted a beautician after pushing her onto her treatment table has been banned from approaching lone women.

Zenon Wheeler, a former patient at Langdon Hospital, Dawlish, pretended to be asking about the cost of treatments when he went into the shop in Exmouth where the victim had just opened the doors and was on her own.

He walked into a treatment room uninvited on his third visit and overpowered the woman before pushing her onto the bed and forcing a hand up her skirt.

By chance, she was on the phone to her husband and shouted for him to call the police.

This was enough to get Wheeler to stop and he returned to his supported accommodation where he told a care worker what he had done.

He later confessed to police that he had a sexual fascination with women in tights.

The beautician was so shocked that she is now cautious of male customers and feels extreme anxiety when she is alone in her business with them.

Wheeler, aged 46, suffers from a learning disability and mental health issues and has been treated at Langdon Hospital in the past.

He admitted sexual assault and was ordered to do 40 hours of rehabilitation activities and 80 hours of unpaid community work under a three year community order by Judge Anna Richardson at Exeter Crown Court.

She made a three -year restraining order banning any contact with the victim and a 15-year sexual harm prevention order which forbids Wheeler from initiating contact with lone women who he does not know.

The judge agreed to an amendment to the order which excluded female medical or social care professionals who may treat or help him in the future.

She said: “The overall picture is that the risk you pose can be managed in the community.

You are genuinely remorseful and not considered to be dangerous.”Miss Felicity Payne, prosecuting, said Wheeler had been watching the shop and waiting for the woman to open it on March 21 and then went inside twice, ostensibly to inquire about treatments, before leaving.

She gave him a price list and went into a treatment room where she was on the phone to her husband when he entered uninvited and assaulted her, putting his hand up her skirt and trying to pull down or rip off her tights.

Miss Payne said Wheeler had previous convictions and cautions for similar sexual assaults in 2002 and 2007.

Mr Chris Cuddihee, defending, said a psychiatric report had identified areas which Wheeler can work on to change his behaviour and a new care package has been put in place for him.

He told police that he was ashamed and has also expressed remorse to support workers and the author of the probation pre-sentence report.