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| Group caught rapist after attack | Group caught rapist after attack |
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| A rapist who was caught by a group of people after he attacked a woman on a footpath has been jailed for life. | A rapist who was caught by a group of people after he attacked a woman on a footpath has been jailed for life. |
| Martin Walsh, 19, from Blakes Close in Stanley, County Durham, admitted two rapes and an indecent assault. | Martin Walsh, 19, from Blakes Close in Stanley, County Durham, admitted two rapes and an indecent assault. |
| Durham Crown Court heard he grabbed his 21-year-old victim in July as she walked her dogs on the cycle and walkway at Tanfield, County Durham. | Durham Crown Court heard he grabbed his 21-year-old victim in July as she walked her dogs on the cycle and walkway at Tanfield, County Durham. |
| Jailing Walsh for a minimum of nearly six years, the judge said he subjected her to a horrifying sexual attack. | Jailing Walsh for a minimum of nearly six years, the judge said he subjected her to a horrifying sexual attack. |
| The court heard the attack happened just hours after Walsh had been given a Community Order for assaulting his adoptive mother. | The court heard the attack happened just hours after Walsh had been given a Community Order for assaulting his adoptive mother. |
| He was "drunk and angry" when he dragged the young woman into bushes and threatened to kill her before carrying out what was described as a series of sickening attacks. | He was "drunk and angry" when he dragged the young woman into bushes and threatened to kill her before carrying out what was described as a series of sickening attacks. |
| Walsh was cornered by members of the public | |
| Euan Duff, prosecuting, told the court: "The offences represent a particularly brutal and prolonged sexual assault carried out over a period of something like 40 minutes. | Euan Duff, prosecuting, told the court: "The offences represent a particularly brutal and prolonged sexual assault carried out over a period of something like 40 minutes. |
| "By the end of the attack the victim was convinced in her own mind that the defendant was intending to kill her." | "By the end of the attack the victim was convinced in her own mind that the defendant was intending to kill her." |
| Mr Duff told the court that during the attack Walsh's mobile phone rang and he answered a call from his girlfriend who heard him telling his victim "I'll snap your neck". | Mr Duff told the court that during the attack Walsh's mobile phone rang and he answered a call from his girlfriend who heard him telling his victim "I'll snap your neck". |
| She eventually managed to struggle free and fled semi-naked before being helped by two youths who were cycling past. | She eventually managed to struggle free and fled semi-naked before being helped by two youths who were cycling past. |
| Johnathan Stoker and Adam Barker, both 16, took a description of Walsh and tracked him down before alerting allotment holders who surrounded him and detained him until police arrived. | Johnathan Stoker and Adam Barker, both 16, took a description of Walsh and tracked him down before alerting allotment holders who surrounded him and detained him until police arrived. |
| Judge Tim Hewitt awarded both boys £200 from public funds and praised their actions in helping the victim. | Judge Tim Hewitt awarded both boys £200 from public funds and praised their actions in helping the victim. |
| 'Extremely dangerous' | 'Extremely dangerous' |
| At an earlier hearing Walsh had admitted two charges of rape, one charge of assault by penetration and one charge of attempting to choke, suffocate or strangle with intent to rape. | |
| Judge Hewitt said of the victim, who is now on medication for depression: "Suffice to say you have ruined her life." | Judge Hewitt said of the victim, who is now on medication for depression: "Suffice to say you have ruined her life." |
| Ros Scott Bell, defending, said Walsh had no recollection of the incident and was thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour. | Ros Scott Bell, defending, said Walsh had no recollection of the incident and was thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour. |
| Judge Hewitt told Walsh: "I regard you as extremely dangerous. | Judge Hewitt told Walsh: "I regard you as extremely dangerous. |
| "It's clear you pose a significant risk to the public and in my judgment qualify for a life sentence of imprisonment." | "It's clear you pose a significant risk to the public and in my judgment qualify for a life sentence of imprisonment." |
| Referring to the minimum tariff before Walsh can be considered for parole, Judge Hewitt said: "It may seem to the public to be a short period but it is the result of statutory guidelines." | Referring to the minimum tariff before Walsh can be considered for parole, Judge Hewitt said: "It may seem to the public to be a short period but it is the result of statutory guidelines." |
| After the hearing, Detective Sergeant Graeme Devine, of Durham Police, said: "I have been a police officer for 19 years and this is the worst case I have had the misfortune to deal with." | After the hearing, Detective Sergeant Graeme Devine, of Durham Police, said: "I have been a police officer for 19 years and this is the worst case I have had the misfortune to deal with." |