WOODBURY — A 21-year-old Paulsboro man was convicted Thursday, Oct. 9, of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old former girlfriend more than there years ago.

A Gloucester County  jury deliberated for about four hours in a two-day period to find Dajon Lester guilty of sexual assault and trespass, authorities said.

Lester was inside the Westville home of his former girlfriend on Feb.  7, 2011 when he reportedly put his hand over her mouth, according to testimony.

She told her mother of the assault later that day and went to a hospital. Evidence from the subsequent examination was a positive match for Lester’s DNA, according to New Jersey State Police scientists.

Lester reportedly texted the victim several times that day, expressing regret and asking her not to tell anyone. One message read to the jury said, “Did you call the cops?”

Testifying last in the trial, Lester claimed his apologies were for a scuffle he and the girl had on Feb. 4, 2011. He said he quickly made up with her and that they had consensual sex the night of Feb. 5, 2011 — which an NJSP scientist acknowledged could have accounted for the presence of his  DNA.

Lester testified he went to the girl’s home on Feb. 7, 2011 only to ask why she had not replied to his text messages He said he never touched her. In testimony during a May 2012 court proceeding, he said, he’d lied when he claimed he was never at her house on Feb. 7, 2011.

Senior Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Laurie Cimino argued that just Lester’s admitted lie under oath was enough to discredit his trial testimony.

Lester’s bail was revoked and he was jailed. Sentencing will take place after he is evaluated at the state Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center, a facility for sex offenders, in Avenel.