A pub landlord who sexually assaulted a woman after she passed out after a drinking binge, walked free from a court last week.
Michael Rowland had been cleared of raping the woman but was convicted of taking advantage of her in his flat above the Railway Inn pub in Newton Abbot, Devon.
The woman, who was 20 years younger than the 48 year old landlord, told a jury at Exeter Crown Court she thought her drink may have been spiked with the date rape drug Rohypnol.
Rowland was cleared of raping her in the bathroom and spare bedroom and sexually assaulting her twice in the bathroom.
He was found guilty by the jury of assault by penetration when he rubbed her body when she was semi conscious or had passed out.
Rowland admitted doing that but believed she had consented to the activity.
He said that was what he was referring to the next morning when he texted her saying:"I'm really sorry, I raped you. I know it was terrible."
Rowland told the court that he was in emotional turmoil after his wife Mandy had died a few weeks earlier.
He said he had carried her to the bedroom where she started fondling him and they took part in non penetrative sexual activity.
Yesterday Rowland was jailed for 18 months, suspended for 12 months, and placed on the Sex Offenders' register for 10 years.
