SEX attacker Kuldip Singh was put behind bars after he turned up drunk for the first day of his trial.

The 38-year-old had to be checked out by a police doctor because of the state he was in before the noon hearing.

A prospective jury and witnesses had turned up at Swindon Crown Court to try the charge of indecent assault on a woman in the steam room at a Turkish bath.

The case had to be adjourned for a day when he was deemed to be in an unfit state to instruct his barrister or understand what was going on.

And when he attended court after a night in custody Singh pleaded guilty to the offence committed on February 18 this year.

On that day he followed his 25-year-old victim from the Mail Coach pub in the town centre to the Health Hydro on Milton Road where the attack took place.

At an earlier hearing magistrates were told that the victim had met her attacker in the pub and even played pool with him and another person.

But he then turned up beside her in a steam room and tried to forcibly kiss her before indecently assaulting her.

Frank Murphy, prosecuting, said: "The complainant went to the Health Hydro to use the steam rooms. While alone the defendant materialised next to her. He then assaulted her in that steam room." He said the victim felt, "angry, shocked and upset".

The court heard Singh had effectively admitted the offence when he contacted a friend of the victim who he also knew.

He told her: "I want to say I am sorry. I didn't mean it. I was drunk," and added that he didn't want to put the victim through the ordeal of a trial.

Michael Fullerton, defending,told the hearing: "In the cells this morning he is sober and he repeatedly and humbly apologised to both me and my instructing solicitor and indeed the court for his state yesterday. It is a contrite apology."

But refusing bail Judge Tom Longbotham said: "This was a serious assault. You pleaded guilty albeit at the last minute and after witnesses had at least the ordeal of coming to court.

"I am told in a statement from a witness that you didn't mean to do what you did because you were drunk.

"That is of no comfort to the court and I have no doubt it is no comfort to the victim either."

He adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports and warned Singh that he could still face the prospect of a custodial sentence.