Man admits kidnap and attempted rape
A SEX attacker has confessed to kidnapping and trying to rape a woman in a Tyneside country park.
Alan Rothwell carried out the shocking attack on a 63-year-old woman at the Rising Sun Country Park in North Tyneside, on March 28.
It turned the usually peaceful area of North Tyneside in a major crime scene and caused fear and revulsion in the community.
Now Rothwell, 34, of Mowbray Street in Heaton, Newcastle, is facing a lengthy prison after he admitted kidnap, attempted rape, two counts of sexual assault and robbery of the victim’s phone and £5. He will be sentenced on July 1, when full details will be revealed.
Judge Stephen Earl remanded him in custody and told him: “In the meantime there will be prepared
a report on behalf of the defence as to the psychiatric position and a pre-sentence report which will address the issue of dangerousness.”
The victim was attacked in the Rising Sun, in Benton, on Monday, March 28, at about 4.10pm near the pit heap area. She was found in a distressed state. Police were called and spoke to the woman, who said she had been approached by a man, forced to the ground and attacked before he made off from the scene.
The 400-acre park, laid out on land reclaimed from the former Rising Sun Colliery, is popular with dog walkers and families with young children, who enjoy exploring the extensive footpaths, ponds and woodlands.
Many who live locally voiced their shock and concern at the time after hearing about the incident.
A lone female jogger who spoke to The Chronicle but didn’t want to be named, said: “I’m shocked. I’m quite an anxious person and don’t like going out jogging on my own when it’s dark, but I’ve always felt safe using the park during the day.
“Everyone wants to feel safe where they live and not have to worry about what other people might do to them. This is the worst sort of crime to commit against a woman and knowing it happened where I jog most days and so close to where I live is very scary. I just hope the poor woman is OK.”
Margaret Mckay, who lives just a few minutes’ walk from the park, walks her rescue greyhound Rosie there most days. She said: “I am horrified. I’m 69 and to think that this happened to a women not much younger than me is terrible. It’s shocking.
“I think this incident will make a lot more people nervous about coming out later, even when it is light.”
Rebecca Short, 31, from Palmersville, walks her two-year-old Labrador Izzy every day at the Rising Sun. Like other park users she expressed her horror at the attack.
She said: “I come here every day and it does tend to be mostly women I see when I’m out. It’s scary to think what has happened. With the lighter nights now it wasn’t dark, and even though I’ve got the dog with me it makes you feel much more cautious.”