Woman dragged into an alley saved by motorist
PASSING DRIVER ALERTED BY SCREAMS OF VICTIM
A TERRIFIED woman who was followed and dragged to the ground in an alley was saved when a passing motorist heard her screams.
The victim was walking home alone late at night when Peter Robinson preyed on her vulnerability. Her fears at hearing his footsteps behind her proved wellfounded when he pounced.
A court heard he ended up in a state of undress but Robinson claimed his trousers had fallen down and denied any sexual motive. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was jailed for six years and nine months at Newcastle Crown Court.
It was around 11.30pm on Friday, August 20 last year that drugged-up Robinson saw the victim walking alone along Coatsworth Road, in Bensham, Gateshead. Recorder Caroline Goodwin QC, sentencing him, said: “She noticed you and as she went past or fairly soon after you made the decision to follow her.
“She described hearing your footsteps behind her, which for a lone woman late at night cannot be underestimated in any way.” The judge said the the impact on her must have been “harrowing” and said: “You know, because you have been candid enough in your pre-sentence report to recognise the absolute fear and terror she must have been in on that night.”
She added: “Not only was she attacked but you took hold of her by her coat and dragged her into the alley at the junction. You were clearly attempting to ensure this attack on her could take place.
“You pushed her to the ground. One can only imagine what was going through her mind at that time of night. Her shoes came off and her left leg was injured. She began to scream, screams that were heard and attracted attention.”
The judge said Robinson was in a “state of undress” but stressed he was only to be sentenced for attempted robbery.
But she added: “The fact she could see your penis exposed in part because you were such a dishevelled mess meant she thought the attack was going to be far more serious than fortunately it transpired.”
The court heard the victim’s screams were so loud a man driving past with his friend heard them above the sound of the engine and music they were playing. They intervened and apprehended Robinson, who they described as “looking like a tramp.” The driver was awarded £100 as a reward by the judge.
The victim was described as “white as a sheet and in total shock”. As well as the prison sentence, Robinson, 35, of Salem Hill, Sunderland, who has previous convictions which include domestic violence and robbery of a retired woman, was also given a restraining order.
The court heard Robinson has “some form of insight” into the impact of the attack and has been engaging with services in prison.
He has acknowledged that his drug habit is at the root of his offending, and the court was told he has a mental disorder.