Sexual predator pretended to be homeless in bid to drag lone woman off street

A sexual predator with 111 previous convictions has been jailed after he pretended to be homeless before trying to drag a woman off the street.

Joseph Holmes, 51, from Finkle Street in Bishop Auckland, Durham, draped a sleeping bag over himself on Duke Street in Darlington before following two different woman on 18 December last year.

One lone woman managed to get away, but he then sat down and waited until another walked past on her own.

He followed this second woman and tried to drag her into a secluded alleyway.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Holmes had intended to sexually assault the woman but his attack was interrupted by a man who intervened.

The court heard that Holmes grabbed his victim and "tried to drag her on to Raby Terrace where it is more secluded".

Holmes pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault and assault on the day his trial was due to start - having previously denied the charges.

The court heard that he has 111 previous convictions for 205 offences, including a similar attack where he dragged a woman to the floor in Durham city centre in 2017. He put his hand up the woman's skirt and sexually assaulted her. He was jailed for four years.

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His latest victim, who is in her 30s, said she had problems with sleep and nightmares since the attack.

She said: "I wake up screaming due to the incident. I feel sad all of the time.

"I have severe panic attacks and I have been binge drinking to block out the memories of that night.

"I feel scared to be alone or go out in the dark. At times I have contemplated suicide."

Robert Mochrie, defending Holmes, said his client had not planned the attack, but that it was "opportunistic", while he was drunk.

Mr Mochrie said of Holmes: "This is a man with significant problems himself. He is an alcoholic."

Judge Benjamin Nolan told Holmes that he was "entirely satisfied, with your previous record, that you intended to sexually assault her".

The judge added: "In your case, you pose a high risk for sexual assault and violence."

The judge categorised Holmes as a "dangerous offender" and jailed him for 10 years.

He will sign the sex offenders' register for the rest of his life.