A York man is spending his 21st birthday behind bars today (Tuesday) after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a woman on a city cycle path.
James Ronald Raynor was sentenced to 32 months when he appeared at York Crown Court on Monday (December 11).
The incident happened at around 8.50pm on Sunday, September 24.
He approached the woman, who was also in her 20s, and groped her as she walked along the track from Tang Hall towards James Street.
Victim fought back
The victim tried to fight him off her by pulling his hair. She bit him near a thumb, shouted at him and hit him in the face.
Raynor, from the Boroughbridge Road area of York, then made his escape along the cycle path.
North Yorkshire Police launched an extensive investigation following the incident, including a public appeal for information, and Raynor was arrested three days after the incident.
He was charged with one count of sexual assault. He pleaded guilty at York Crown Court.
On his release, Raynor will be a registered sex offender and will have to sign the sex offender’s register for ten years.
Victim showed ‘immense courage’
Detective Constable Peter Cooper of York Serious Crime Team said: “This was a cowardly attack and I very much welcome Raynor’s sentence.
“By contrast, the victim showed immense courage when she fought him off and came forward to the police.
“By putting her trust in us, our officers have been able to quickly locate her attacker and build a strong case against him that led to him admitting the offence and being sentenced.”
Det Con Cooper hopes the victim can take comfort from knowing Raynor is locked up.
It’s been a horrendous experience for her, but she’s receiving support from specially-trained officers to help her move on in life.
I hope she’ll find that easier knowing Raynor has been detained and cannot pose a threat to other women.