A PIZZA delivery driver who groped a customer and tried to pay her off to keep her quiet was last night behind bars.

Imran Khan was told by a judge that he had left his victim - attacked in her own home - terrified and emotionally scarred.

Khan, 37, from Stockton, was found guilty of sexual assault after a three-day trial at Teesside Crown Court last month.

The married father still denies touching the woman in the early hours of March 22 last year, Judge Bowers heard yesterday.

The judge told Khan: "It is essential that delivery drivers' behaviour is beyond reproach - you breached that trust.

"It has clearly had a profound effect on her. She has moved address because you knew where she lived. She was afraid.

"You are not suitable for a sex offender treatment programme so the only sentence I can pass is one of immediate custody."

Khan was also put on the sex offenders' register for ten years and was banned from delivering to homes for five years.

Although it never emerged during his trial, it has since been revealed Khan was convicted in 2005 for soliciting a prostitute.

His barrister Michael Smith, said Khan had a "solid" marriage and that he had been hard-working since arriving in the UK.

"While obviously accepting that this was a very upsetting and distressing incident, it was over relatively quickly," he said.

"Although Mr Khan, on the evidence, came back, nothing further took place. This can be viewed as an isolated incident."

Khan, of Bowesfield Lane, Stockton, was told by the judge: "You were convicted of what was a serious sexual assault on this girl.

"You compounded that by attempting to return to the house . . . an attempt to persuade her not to report the matter to the police."

During the trial, prosecutor Shaun Dodds told the jury that Khan went to kiss the customer and made personal comments.

When she asked how much the take-away order was, Khan is said to have replied: “Nothing for you, you’re beautiful."

The 20-year-old victim made it clear she was not interested, but Khan put his hand down her trousers and touched her.