Dog Walk Horror: Man Follows Woman, Forces Her to Knees in Shocking Attack
At around 9.30am on 22 December 2021, 29-year-old Douglas Knight approached a woman walking her dog along Undercliff Road in Charles Wood.
Knight initially passed her but then turned back to follow. He made small talk and petted her dog before she tried to carry on.
Grabs Woman, Forces Her Down – But She Fights Back
During the Portsmouth Crown Court trial, jurors heard how Knight kept walking behind the woman, then suddenly grabbed her and forced her to her knees.
He tried to cover her face, but she bit him, screamed, and elbowed him hard enough to make him flee towards Hunts Road.
Police arrived swiftly and arrested Knight nearby.
Knight Convicted and Jailed for 8½ Years
Knight faced two charges: false imprisonment and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence. He admitted the first but denied the second.
The trial kicked off on 11 January 2023, and by 18 January, Knight was found guilty of the sexual offence charge.
On Friday 31 March, the Undercliff Drive resident was sentenced to eight and a half years behind bars. He’ll also be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Police Praise Victim’s Bravery and Urge Community to Stay Safe
“This was an incredibly frightening attack on a woman going about her normal daily business,” said DC Amy Hicks.
“No one should ever have to feel afraid outside in their own neighbourhood. Men like Knight have no place in society. I’m glad he’s now in prison where he belongs. Huge thanks to the victim for her courage in bringing this dangerous man to justice.”
The police say they want everyone to feel safe and encourage people to report anything that makes them uneasy using the Home Office’s StreetSafe tool, launched in September 2021.
StreetSafe isn’t for reporting crime but lets you flag issues like poor street lighting, abandoned buildings, or intimidating behaviour in your area — anything that puts your nerves on edge.
