TWO women have been sexually assaulted in Thurrock by a man who was released on bail for months after admitting previous similar assaults.

Leonard Scamp, 33, of Love Lane, Aveley was due to be sentenced by Basildon Crown Court in April after appearing before a judge in March, when he admitted a series of sexual assaults in Grays and Aveley.

At the time Thurrock Nub News reported the expectations of Essex Police that he would be sentenced to jail for his acts.

PC Fred Theobald, from Grays CID, said: "No woman should be made to fear their safety while going about their daily business.

"Leonard Scamp has admitted to carrying out three attacks in the space of two days.

"He now faces the prospect of being behind bars for the foreseeable future and Thurrock is a safer place for this."

However, Scamp was released on bail and because of delays and problems within the courts administration, Scamp has remained a free man for months.

And last weekend he committed two more attacks on women in Grays. A quick response by police led to his arrest and on Monday this week he appeared before magistrates at Southend.

He was remanded in custody and once again referred to Crown court for sentencing – and a date has been set for Friday, 2 September.

Problems with the judicial system and the delays in people facing trial and sentence have been raised by Nub News with Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle Price who told us: "The courts backlog is causing very real difficulty. I can raise the matter with ministers."