Yahoo News Man who held scissors against victim's throat jailed for attempted rape
A man who attempted to rape a stranger while holding scissors to her throat has been jailed for more than six years.
Matt Mellor, 40, pounced on the victim as she walked home in Northampton at in the early hours of 26 February.
Mellor, who stands at 6ft 10ins tall, followed the woman, aged in her 20s, before grabbing her from behind.
He then dragged her to the ground and held a pair of scissors to her throat before telling her: “I have a knife. Take your trousers off. If you scream, I will kill you.”
The woman fought her attacker off and her screams were heard by a nearby resident who turned on their light, at which point Mellor fled the scene.
His victim reported the attack to police and detectives were able to track Mellor, who has previous convictions for sexual assault, after his huge frame was captured on CCTV.
He was arrested in Leicester later that day and subsequently charged with attempted rape, possession of a bladed article and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.
Mellor admitted the charges at Northampton Crown Court on Friday and was jailed for a total of six years and eight months.
Judge Rebecca Crane said Mellor demonstrated “entrenched predatory behaviour”.
She told him: “You have engaged with intervention and worked with a private therapist but unfortunately that does not seem to prevent you from acting on your sexual fantasies.”
In a victim impact statement, the woman victim said the attack had left her feeling “scared, paranoid and wary.”
She said: “I feel like because of this, I can’t be myself and I am struggling to see any closure ahead.”
Mellor has 13 previous convictions dating back to 2000 including indecent assaults of victims under the ages of 14 and 16.
Read more from Yahoo News UK:
One of two beavers reintroduced to UK after extinction is found dead in Essex park
Tony Blair to face protests at Windsor Castle as Queen awards him major royal honour
Climber dies from injuries after '150ft fall' from Snowdonia mountain
The court heard he had targeted lone women in the past including a young female student who he followed from her university’s library before sexually assaulting her.
Detective Constable Adam Kelly, of Northamptonshire Police, said: “Matt Mellor is a very large man, about 6ft 10in in height.
"His actions on that night would have been an absolutely terrifying experience for this woman who should have been able to walk wherever she liked without fear of such an attack.
“She showed tremendous bravery in fighting him off whilst shouting for help and I would like to thank her for her support and courage during our investigation.”
