A man who dodged the authorities by fleeing the UK after sexually assaulting a woman has escaped a prison sentence.

Former New Malden resident Jean-Baptiste Kim, 47, appeared at Kingston Crown Court today for a crime he committed more than seven years ago.

The married father-of-three, formerly of Orchard Avenue, admitted sexually touching a woman on October 4, 2007, at a previous hearing.

The court heard how Kim smelled the woman's neck, kissed her, grabbed her bottom and put his hands up the back of her top forcefully.

Defence counsel Martin Rutherford said: "My client's remorse is best expressed by his guilty plea.

"He is extremely distressed to be parted from his family - they know next to nothing about this. His wife and three kids - all five are coping with the separation with extreme difficulty."

Kim, who has no previous convictions, fled to Annecy, France, with his family after being interviewed by police at the time of the offence.

He had said the victim's testimony was false.

But a warrant for Kim's arrest was issued after he disappeared that year, and he was finally arrested at Heathrow last year during a stopover on his way to the US.

In sentencing judge Judith Coello said the victim's ordeal must have been "terrifying".

Kim, who was previously in custody, was given a 16-week sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He will also be on the sex offenders register for seven years.