A man who referred to himself as "cheeky Tom" has been jailed for eight months following multiple sexual assault offences, including one which happened in a Suffolk town.

Thomas Catcheside, 81 and of Fanshawe Road in Cambridge, was sentenced following a sexual assault and assault by beating of a woman in her 20s in Haverhill on February 11 last year. 

Last week, Peterborough Crown Court also heard how he referred to himself as "cheeky Tom" before sexually assaulting another girl on two separate occasions. 

Catcheside was shopping in Ely on June 2 last year when he walked past the teenage girl, who was handing out free samples of food outside the front of a shop, just after 3pm. 

He approached her and first made general conversation before sexually assaulting her by touching her inappropriately. 

The teenager immediately told her manager and the police were called. 

Just over a month later, Catcheside approached the teenager again in almost identical circumstances. The store manager chased after him and managed to take a picture.

This photo was released in a media appeal and Catcheside was identified and arrested. 

He denied sexually assaulting the teenage girl and was later charged with two counts of sexual assault.

Catcheside was jailed for six months for the offences in Ely and two months for the offences in Haverhill. 

Catcheside was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and given a restraining order banning him from the shop in Ely until 2030.

Detective Sergeant Elaine Penniket, of Cambridgeshire police, said: "Catcheside's behaviour was unacceptable, and we will do all we can to bring offenders like him to justice."

 "His actions have had a lasting impact on his two victims who were trying to go about their day when he targeted them."