SEX BEAST IS JAILED

Five-year sentence for ‘social misfit’ who attacked two women with knife

A CATEGORY one sex offender who attacked two women with a knife was jailed yesterday.

Belfast Crown Court heard Kim Sharratt, who received a five-year sentence, attempted to drag one of his victims down an alleyway while he had her in a headlock.

The offences were carried out late on the evening of April 6 last year in the Stranmillis Road and Botanic Avenue areas of South Belfast. In both cases, the 56-year-old’s targets were lone females walking home.

Judge Geoffrey Miller was told an assessment of the defendant by the Probation Board concluded it was “inevitable he will commit further offences and he poses a significant risk to females”.

Sharratt, from University Street in Belfast, was described as a “social misfit”.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of assault with intent to commit a sexual offence. He appeared with 47 previous convictions, most for sexual and physical assaults against women including a charge of attempted rape.

The judge said Sharratt was a man with a “history of 40 years of sexually inappropriate behaviour”.

As well as a five-year term, an extended period of three years on licence was imposed. He will be eligible for release after serving half his sentence, but will only be freed if deemed suitable by the Parole Commission.