When she woke, the woman tried to fight him off but he restrained her before fleeing the home.
Appearing in court last week, Essom had been found guilty of trespass with intent to commit sexual offence.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison and placed on the sex offenders register for life.
During the hearing, it was found that another woman already had a restraining order against Essom for repeatedly staring at her as she worked late shifts at a petrol station.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Kim McHugh said he hoped the conviction would 'give others the confidence to come forward and make a report to the police.'