A man convicted of a string of sexual offences in the 1970s - including indecently assaulting and trying to murder a schoolgirl - has avoided jail after being caught offending again.
Michael Zabroski, 72, appeared at Norwich Crown Court, charged with sexually assaulting a vulnerable woman he met at a holiday park.
The victim, who has a mental age of about six, suffers from a disorder affecting her movement and uses a wheelchair or walker.
The court was told how Zabroski molested the woman in the arcade of a holiday park in Kessingland, near Lowestoft, while her mother was distracted.
He later told police he assumed the victim would not notice his assault.
His barrister told the court that it was Zabroski's first recorded offence in 48 years.
Some details of his earlier criminal record did emerge.
In one incident, which took place in the Midlands in 1974, he dragged a girl into bushes and indecently assaulted her, before trying to kill her. He was convicted of attempted murder.
Norwich Crown Court, sitting at the Whitefriars building, was told that his latest offence had had a significant impact on his victim, who had difficulty sleeping and kept asking whether her attacker was in prison.
However, Judge Alice Robinson imposed a 20 month prison sentence but suspended it for 18 months.
The court was told that the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been on holiday with her parents when she was approached by Zabroski in an arcade on July 9.
Godfried Duah, prosecuting, said he had been playing on the machines and offered her tickets he had won to go and get prizes.
Mr Duah said after the victim's mother went to collect a prize, Zabroski committed a "brazen sexual assault" on her, taking care to try to make sure other people did not see as they walked past.
Zabroski left when the mother returned but the victim told her what had happened.
Police were called and identified Zabroski as a suspect. He was later arrested.
In an interview he told officers he did not think the victim would realise what he was doing, adding "because she didn't say anything I assumed she was not aware of what had happened".
He also said he "hadn't asked her [if he could touch her sexually] as I thought she would say no".
Police asked him about the victim's vulnerabilities and whether he knew she might be vulnerable.
He said: "Yes."
Judge Alice Robinson said it had been a "sustained" attack.
However, she gave Zabroski credit for his plea at the first opportunity and accepted his previous offences, including the attempted murder, had been many years previously.
Michael Clare, mitigating for Zabroski who has four previous convictions, accepted it was an "appalling offence".
But he argued it was "not really sustained" and more "opportunistic" and "short-lived".
Mr Clare said there had been no planning although he did concede that Zabroski had "preyed upon her and her vulnerability".
Zabroski was also fined £500 and ordered to undertake an accredited programme with probation.
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