Knifepoint sex attack man facing extended prison term

A man has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at knifepoint in a Leicestershire village.

Peter Smith (33) was warned he faced an "extended sentence" after he was convicted by a jury of the assault, and of possession of a bladed article and kidnap.

Smith targeted the 23-year-old victim in Little Bowden in November 2011, as she walked home from work in Market Harborough.

The defendant, formerly of Rushton Road, Rothwell, was also found guilty of the attempted kidnap of a woman in Desborough, Northamptonshire, on February 18.

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After the verdicts were announced at Northampton Crown Court yesterday, the 23-year-old victim, who cannot be identified, said: "I am relieved the court case is over and the right outcome was reached."

Detective Constable Rob Arthur, the investigating officer, said the woman had been "very brave in reporting this to police after going through a very distressing experience".

He said: "I hope the verdict will give this small, tight-knit community the peace of mind that following this shocking crime, the man responsible will be sent to prison."

During the trial, the 23-year-old victim told the jury she was approached in an alleyway by Smith, who was armed with a knife.

"He said, 'Do as I say or I'm going to stab you'," the woman said. "I said 'OK' and held out my iPod. He didn't look at it."

She said the man grabbed her arm.

"He told me to lie down," she said. "He had the knife out all the time. I did as he said and he lay down on top of me. He was shorter than me so he came up to my nose. He was trying to get my skirt up. It had a lot of layers in it and he was fumbling.

"He pulled me up and said, 'I'm going to stab you now', and he started to move the knife towards me.

"I grabbed his arm and realised at that point I was actually stronger than him. I think he realised it, too.

"I pushed away from him and started shouting for help."

On February 18, Smith was arrested by Northamptonshire Police following an incident in Desborough, when a 17-year old woman was approached as she was walking along Rothwell Road.

Police were alerted and Smith was later detained.

The court heard Smith was arrested for the Little Bowden assault after a custody officer in Northamptonshire recognised him from an artist's impression issued by Leicestershire Police.

Leicestershire officers were alerted and Smith was arrested and charged for the Little Bowden offence.

Smith, who has been convicted of attempted kidnapping before, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming he had merely wanted to rob the women.

Adjourning sentencing for probation and psychiatric reports, and remanding Smith in custody, Judge Rupert Mayo said the defendant was facing years in prison with an extended licence period when he was eventually released.

Smith is likely be on the sex offender register for life.

He is due to be sentenced on Friday, December 14.