Darlington sex attacker branded 'danger' to women and jailed 10 years

Joseph Holmes was branded a ‘high risk’ to the public as he shows no sign of ‘slowing down’ his sexual attacks on women.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 51-year-old’s latest attack was only thwarted by the intervention of a man who spotted the defendant dragging his victim towards a back alley in Darlington town centre.

Holmes has a previous conviction for an almost identical attack on a woman he targeted before carrying out a callous sexual assault.

His latest victim told the judge of the devastating impact the attack had had on her mental and physical health, leaving her suicidal and feeling worthless.

Read more: Judge tells pervert he is ‘fortunate not to be going to prison this Christmas’

In a victim impact statement, she said she now suffered nightmares and was struggling with flare ups of her autoimmune condition leaving her suffering with debilitating pain.

“I hate myself and question myself constantly,” she said. “I feel judged, dirty and these feelings are destroying me.”

Sam Faulks, prosecuting, said Holmes draped a sleeping bag over his shoulder to pretend that he was homeless before waiting for lone women to pass him as he waited on Duke Street.

He said CCTV footage showed Holmes attempt to follow one woman who managed to escape his grasp before he pounced on his victim in the early hours of December 18 last year.

The defendant has 111 previous convictions for 205 offences, including ones for sexual assault, carrying weapons and assault.

The court heard how he was sentenced to four years in prison in 2017 for an attack on a woman in Durham city centre where he dragged her to the floor before putting her hand up her skirt and sexually assaulting her.

Joseph Holmes (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Holmes, of Finkle Street, Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to assault and attempted sexual assault on the day his trial was due to begin.

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said his client had longstanding alcohol problems and accepted that he would often offend whilst under the influence of drink, maintaining that the latest offending was ‘opportunistic’ rather than pre-planned.

Recorder Benjamin Nolan KC branded Holmes a dangerous offender as he passed the ten-year sentence for the ‘chronic alcoholic’.

“You waited for another victim; you followed her, she crossed the street, you crossed the street, she crossed the street again and you crossed the street again.

“You then attempted to drag her onto Raby Terrace where it is more secluded. I am entirely satisfied that with your previous record that you intended to sexually assault her,” he said.

“In your case, there is a high risk for violence and sexual assault.”

Holmes was also ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Read next:

• Woman's 'exceptional' sentence after biting victim during £200 robbery
• Judge tells man his violent attack on ex-partner is a sign of 'male inadequacy'
• Ex-prison officer blames alcohol for return to downloading child abuse images