Man with ‘evil eyes’ jailed after terrifying sex attack
A MAN with “evil eyes” who followed a woman into an underpass in the early hours and sexually attacked her has been jailed for six years and four months.
Judge Rhys Rowlands told attacker Llion Wyn Jones that it was “the stuff of nightmares” for young women and their families.
The victim, aged 20 at the time of the attack, had to give up work and told a court last week in a victim impact statement that her life had “changed completely” following the incident in Bangor.
Jones, 43, of Ashton Terrace, Caernarfon, admitted false imprisonment with intent to commit a sexual offence, after a charge of attempted rape was dropped.
Judge Rowlands, sitting at Mold Crown Court, commended the victim for her behaviour “from beginning to end”.
Prosecuting barrister Elen Owen said that, in the early hours last September, the victim was walking home after a night out with friends.
Her boyfriend was due to meet her but she had set off earlier than planned.
“As she approached the Skerries public house at the end of the high street, she saw the defendant for the first time,” said Miss Owen.
“She had never seen him before. He was walking ahead of her and she thought nothing of it initially.
“However, she then realised that having turned off the street he was now behind her.
“She was on the phone to her boyfriend at the time, told him her concerns and he tried to assure her there was nothing to worry about.”
As they approached the underpass, which she described as a tunnel, she thought he was taking a different route so she proceeded into the tunnel, the court heard.
Miss Owen said: “She then became aware that the defendant had rushed ahead of her and was glaring at her with – as she describes it – ‘evil eyes’.
“The defendant threw the food he was carrying and grabbed her, pushing her against a wall.”
He tried to force her down to the floor and tried to get into her clothing.
She shouted “help” and tried to push him away and kick him.
Jones was holding on her throat and she described how she could not see anything, she couldn’t breathe and no sound was coming out despite her trying to shout.
She punched Jones as hard as she could with her right hand to his jaw and he let go of her throat, said Miss Owen.
She managed to unlock her phone and told him that her boyfriend was coming.
He was smirking and laughing before he walked away.
“She could not move and just stood there gasping for breath,” said Miss Owen.
“Fortunately, her boyfriend then arrived at the scene.”
Arrested and interviewed, Jones said he was very drunk, saw a girl wearing “sexy clothing” and decided to try his luck with her.
He claimed he asked her for a kiss and grabbed her.
In a statement, his victim said that, since the attack, she had difficulty sleeping, had nightmares and flashbacks, had lost her confidence, feared being alone and had to give up her employment.
PC John Evans, a victim liaison officer, said afterwards: “I hope this sentence goes some way to reassure the victim and echoes the words used by the judge, that she demonstrated great strength of character in coming forward, standing up to the perpetrator and ensuring that justice was served.”