A GOOD Samaritan helped a teenage sex attack victim - only to discover later that his grandson was the girl's tormentor.

A court heard that it was their strong Yorkshire accents which linked the two and led to would-be rapist Paul Miller's arrest

And today Miller, 24, of Darlington was jailed for seven years for subjecting the 18-year-old care assistant to what a judge described as "a terrifying and most degrading ordeal."

Lady Cosgrove, told by a psychologist that there was a "moderate" risk of Miller, 24, offending again added: "My duty in this court in to attempt to protect women from this type of attack."

Because of the risk he posed, she ordered Miller to be kept under strict supervision for two years after he comes out of jail.

The High Court in Edinburgh had heard earlier how Miller claimed the incident started when he asked the girl for a Christmas kiss as she took a short cut across a school playing field.

But after he tried to rape her, the sobbing 18-year-old girl fled and begged a man out walking his dog to help her.

The frightened girl was drinking tea and waiting for police with good Samaritan James Slater, 78, and his wife Irene, 81, when Paul Miller returned to the house in the Muirhouse area of the city.

Advocate depute Robert Anthony, prosecuting, said the girl didn't actually see Miller - who went straight to his room. But the Yorkshire accents of Mr and Mrs Slater allowed her to "put two and two together."

The 18-year-old had noted Miller's Yorkshire accent when he had threatened to kill her if she did not satisfy his sexual demands.

Miller, whose address was given in court an 31 Coxwold Drive, Darlington, had been staying with his grandparents at the time and working as a cashier in a job centre, the court heard.

Police questioned Miller the day after the attack and he claimed the girl had gone with him willingly after he asked her for a Christmas kiss.

But in court Miller pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted rape.

Lady Cosgrove heard then that the girl is now unable to go out alone - day or night - and does not trust any men she does not know well. She can only hold down her job because a friend takes her to work.

The judge called for background reports before sentencing Miller.

Today defence advocate Ruth Anderson, asking for leniency, said: "He accepts unreservedly the real and extreme distress this attack must have engendered in the 18-year-old girl and - to the best of his ability - has tried to understand the damage he has caused."

The lawyer said Miller had promised to co-operate with any treatment while in prison. "He has clearly expressed a wish to participate in any programme which will assist in reducing the moderate risk to a minimum."

Lady Cosgrove told Miller he had pleaded guilty to a wholly unprovoked attack. "During the course of that attack you subjected your victim to a terrifying and most degrading ordeal.

"The attack has caused distress and undoubtedly left its mark on the victim."

Updated: 16.35 Thursday, June 21