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Car salesman jailed over attacks | Car salesman jailed over attacks |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A car salesman has been jailed for at least nine years for carrying out several violent attacks on women and girls in a Sussex seaside town. | A car salesman has been jailed for at least nine years for carrying out several violent attacks on women and girls in a Sussex seaside town. |
Adam Gall, 27, from Hastings, had denied sexual assault, wounding with intent and assault by beating. | Adam Gall, 27, from Hastings, had denied sexual assault, wounding with intent and assault by beating. |
He was found guilty of carrying out nine assaults in the town, and cleared of four others at Lewes Crown Court. | He was found guilty of carrying out nine assaults in the town, and cleared of four others at Lewes Crown Court. |
The judge told Gall, of Pilgrim's Way, he had deliberately sought to induce great fear for his own sexual arousal. | The judge told Gall, of Pilgrim's Way, he had deliberately sought to induce great fear for his own sexual arousal. |
Sentencing, Judge Michael Lawson QC told him: "Seeing the fear in their faces gave you a sense of power over them and sexually aroused you. | Sentencing, Judge Michael Lawson QC told him: "Seeing the fear in their faces gave you a sense of power over them and sexually aroused you. |
"I see in you someone who poses a real danger to women." | "I see in you someone who poses a real danger to women." |
Judge Lawson also said Gall's crimes had "destroyed lives". | |
Some people had to move house and the peace of victims had been destroyed, he added. | |
Weapons used | Weapons used |
He said: "When we walk down the street we do so on the simple assumption that those that pass us by will not injure us. | |
"For a period of 18 months that was not possible in Hastings for a whole section of society, namely women." | |
Detectives believed that it would have been only a matter of time before Gall murdered a victim, if he had been left on the loose. | Detectives believed that it would have been only a matter of time before Gall murdered a victim, if he had been left on the loose. |
The court heard the attacks on women and girls, aged between 15 and 50, involved an increasing level of violence. | |
This man has shown absolutely no remorse for his crimes or offered apologies Det Ch Insp Mike Ashcroft | |
When the attacks began in March 2007, Gall, who lived with his parents, used his fists and feet. | When the attacks began in March 2007, Gall, who lived with his parents, used his fists and feet. |
But later he used weapons, including a bottle in one attack and a metal bar in another. | |
Victims suffered injuries ranging from bruising, concussion and broken bones, jurors were told. | Victims suffered injuries ranging from bruising, concussion and broken bones, jurors were told. |
Most of the women remained mentally traumatised, the court heard. | Most of the women remained mentally traumatised, the court heard. |
The attacks continued until Gall was "caught in the act" attacking a woman in August 2008, after he had been under police surveillance for seven days. | |
Jurors heard Gall's job, working for a car dealership, had given him access to many different vehicles which he used to drive around the streets. | |
He was given an indeterminate jail term for public protection and will spend at least nine years in prison. | |
After the hearing, Det Ch Insp Mike Ashcroft said Gall was "an extremely dangerous man". | |
He added: "This man has shown absolutely no remorse for his crimes or offered apologies to his victims. We welcome the guilty verdict and the sentence that has been passed down." |
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