MONTREAL - A Crown prosecutor has recommended that a schizophrenic Quebec man who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a female university student be sentenced to two years in prison.

Sylvie Lemieux said Monday that Aimen Rechrech's sentence should be followed by probation for three years.

Lemieux told reporters outside the courtroom that she wanted the population to be protected from Rechrech for as long as possible.

"He needs to be followed for a long period because there are different problems that have to be resolved," she said.

Rechrech, 24, had pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and forcible confinement involving a female student at the downtown campus of a Montreal university two months ago.

Defence lawyer Alexandre Goyette Goyette is recommending a suspended sentence for his burly client, who is being held in custody.

Rechrech was handcuffed during his court appearance before Judge Denis Mondor who will render a sentence July 5.

The victim, a 23-year-old mathematics student, was alone in an office at the Universite du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM) on April 14, preparing an oral presentation when she was assaulted.

Rechrech, who entered the university without being questioned, did not take his medication to treat his schizophrenia and had also consumed crack, court documents said.

He began talking with the woman outside the room, left and returned several times and then began staring at her through a window in the door.

When she opened the door, he had his pants down. The young student threatened to call security, but the man pushed her inside the office and closed the door.

Rechrech then forcibly grabbed one of her breasts and the victim began to scream.

He put a hand on her face, stuck his fingers in her mouth and with his free hand, and tried to push her hand down towards his genitals.

The student was able to break free and run away, while shouting to try to alert campus security.

They could not catch up with Rechrech but security cameras followed him as he fled the building.

Police were able to track him down and arrest him a day later.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2018