New London -- A 33-year-old city man who forced his way into a Jefferson Avenue home and attempted to sexually assault a woman on Jan. 24 will be sentenced in February to four years in prison followed by 10 years of special parole.

Luis M. Rosario pleaded guilty Monday in New London Superior Court to attempted first-degree sexual assault. He has been held in lieu of a $99,000 bond since the incident.

According to a police report, Rosario forced his way into a neighbor’s kitchen when she returned from picking up her mail, pushed her against a wall and started to rape her. He loosened his hold on the 60-year-old woman when she asked to move into another room, and she fled to the nearby Birdseye Cafe for help. Rosario went after the victim and attempted to apologize, but she started crying when she saw him. She suffered scratches and bruises to her neck but refused medical treatment.

Prosecutor Lawrence J. Tytla and defense attorney Thomas W. Teixeira II worked out a plea agreement in the case after several pretrial discussions before Judge Hillary B. Strackbein. At sentencing, the judge said she would issue a stranding criminal protective order that prohibits Rosario from having contact with the victim.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN