Man Jailed for Chasing and Attacking Woman in Portsmouth Alley
A 26-year-old man who stalked a woman for over a mile before dragging her into an alley and launching a brutal assault has been locked up for over three years.
Chilling Chase Ends in Violent Attack
Liam Nicholas pursued his victim from Guildhall Square in Portsmouth in the early hours of 31 August 2016. He grabbed her from behind, pulled her to the ground, and assaulted her in a terrifying attack.
Victim Fights Back and Escapes
According to Portsmouth Crown Court, Nicholas tried to pull the woman’s trousers down, aiming to commit a sexual offence. But the brave victim fought back, shouted for help, and managed to flee.
Quick Police Response Leads to Arrest
Police arrested Nicholas the same day. He pled guilty to an offence intended to commit a sexual crime. Recorder Mr David Bartlett sentenced him to three years and four months behind bars and slapped on an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Detective Inspector Adam Edwards said: “This was a particularly nasty assault where the victim was grabbed in a headlock and beaten before Nicholas tried to pull off her trousers with every intention of a sexual assault. The young woman’s courage in fighting back and shouting for help stopped this horrific attack from going further.”
“Thanks to swift police work, Nicholas was arrested within 24 hours. We hope this case reassures the public that we take these offences incredibly seriously and will always pursue justice.”
