A 28-year-old Somali national from Hoorn has been jailed for 18 months, six suspended, for sexual assault after his victim tracked him down via her stolen mobile phone.

Mohammed M had admitted dragging his 28-year-old victim into woods and assaulting her. The public prosecution had called for a 32 month jail term.

The man has also been told to undergo therapy and banned from using alcohol and drugs for two years.

It is unclear what effect the verdict will have on the man’s residency status, Dutch media said. Junior justice minister Klaas Dijkhoff has said that refugees who are jailed for more than six months can lose their residency permit.

His victim was able to trace M because he stole her mobile phone during the attack and had used it to make calls and selfies.

She traced the phone using the Find my iPhone app, told the police and showed them photographs of the man she claims attacked her. However, the police did not act on her evidence and it took a further two months before he was arrested following a dna match.