Simon Phillip Lock, 52, sentenced in Port Macquarie Local Court for Lord Howe Island assault

A baker on remote Lord Howe Island told a fellow hospitality worker to “stop being silly and get back into bed” when she woke to find him sexually assaulting her, a court has heard.

Simon Phillip Lock pleaded guilty to sexual touching without consent. He sexually assaulted a woman on Lord Howe Island.

A baker on remote Lord Howe Island told a fellow hospitality worker to “stop being silly and get back into bed” when she woke to find him sexually assaulting her, a court has heard.

Simon Phillip Lock, 52, met his victim at The Crooked Post bar and sent her a friend request and message saying: “I like you more than I should, just saying”.

Lock, an English national who was working as a baker at The Anchorage at the time of the offending late last year, was initially charged with having sexual intercourse – without consent – rape.

However, he ended up pleading guilty in Port Macquarie Local Court to sexual touching without consent.

Simon Phillip Lock, 52, has been sentenced in Port Macquarie Local Court. Picture: Facebook

Lock and the victim were out drinking with friends and returned to his house, where she fell asleep on his downstairs couch, according to court documents.

The woman woke to find herself upstairs with her dress around her waist and Lock touching her.

She said “I want to go home” and Lock replied “stop being silly and get back into bed”.

The victim fled the home without her shoes and handbag and called out for help.

A neighbour came to her aid and the woman went to the police. Swabs were taken and matched Lock’s DNA, the court documents state.

A day after the assault, Lock sent the victim a message stating: “So, so sorry about last night, I hope this doesn’t change anything. I do really like you”.

Later in the day, he sent another message: “oh hey, you should come and see me today, I owe you a massive apology.”

Lord Howe Island, which is about 600km east of the Port Macquarie coast. Picture: iStock

Detectives travelled to Lord Howe – about 600km east of the Port Macquarie coast – and interviewed Lock, who initially denied anything sexual happened and said “we were messy”.

Lock has been ordered to stay away from Lord Howe Island as part of bail conditions and he has been living in the Byron area.

He entered a guilty plea to sexual touching without consent in September and was sentenced in the Port Macquarie District Court on October 31.

Lock, who spent about a week in custody before he was bailed, was sentenced to one year and 10 months jail to be served by way of an intensive correction order in the community.

He was ordered to undertake 200 hours of community service work and to take part in drug and alcohol counselling.