YOUNG MAN JAILED FOR ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ATTACK WITH A KNIFE IN SOUTH TYNESIDE
Joshua Okugbeni was stabbed in the neck by a woman he attempted to sexually assaultChurch-going pharmacy student Joshua Okugbeni grabbed the woman from behind as she walked to work one morning, putting a hand over her mouth, an arm around her stomach and dragging her towards a wall.Okugbeni asked the victim for a kiss and pulled his own trousers down, so the brave woman, fearing she was about to be raped, took out her keys and stabbed him in the neck.The startled 21-year-old, who was left with a puncture wound, ran off with his trousers still down.A court heard Okugbeni had already left another woman petrified minutes earlier after following her off the Metro, stalking her through the streets and grabbing her with his hand over her mouth.Now he has been jailed for five years and four months at Newcastle Crown Court after he admitted assault with intent to commit a sexual offence and common assault.Judge Christopher Prince told Okugbeni: “With admirable courage and presence of mind [the second victim] reached into her handbag, took out a bunch of keys and, in the belief you were about to rape her, she stabbed you in the neck with those keys.“That allowed her to escape from your clutches and run away.“She was in an absolutely terrified state, not that that must diminish the admiration everybody must have for her fighting back so tenaciously.“This is every woman and man’s nightmare, that as they try to go about their everyday lives in public streets, they may be attacked by somebody like you, with an intent to commit a sexual offence.”He looked startled and they both ran off, him still with his trousers downProsecutor Bridie Smurthwaite The judge added: “I’ve got to express the courts admiration for [the second victim’s] presence of mind in fighting back against her attacker and taking out her keys and stabbing him in the neck.”The first victim, who is in her 40s, was on her way to work around 6.45am last November when she ended up in the same Metro carriage as Okugbeni.He moved to sit closer to her then got off behind her at Seaburn station, following her along the platform and into nearby streets.As she walked along he suddenly grabbed her arm from behind then pretended he just wanted directions.The woman was petrified and Okugbeni repeatedly apologised but then kept following her, as she quickened her step in fear.She went to a nearby hospital to raise the alarm and Okugbeni pushed her against a door and put his hand over her mouth, muffling her shouts for help.He then gave up, running away until he came across the second victim, who is in her 30s, and fixed his sights on her.Prosecutor Bridie Smurthwaite said: “When he saw her he crossed the road and followed her.“She realised the defendant was behind her and heard footsteps getting faster and faster.“As she walked into a cut, he came up behind her and put one hand around her mouth and the other around her stomach and dragged her towards the wall.”Okugbeni told the woman ‘All I want is a kiss, shush, just give me a kiss’ and held her against a wall by her shoulders.Miss Smurthwaite said: “Then he pulled her trousers down and said ‘look’.“As he said ‘look’ he looked down towards his trousers and she had the presence of mind to unzip her handbag and take hold of her keys.“She was afraid he would rape her and thought to herself ‘I’m not getting raped by him’ and stabbed him in the neck, wounding him.“He looked startled and they both ran off, him still with his trousers down.”Okugbeni, of Cleadon-Lea, Cleadon, South Tyneside, pleaded guilty to common assault on the first victim and assault with intent to commit a sexual offence against the second woman.The first victim said she’d been left unable to sleep and feeling anxious.She added: “This has left me terrified and so scared in case he comes back.” She added: “This has left me very frightened.“I believe his intention was to rape me and I think he thought I was an easy target because I’m petite.”“I think he is a predator and a danger to women who needs to be kept away from the public.
“He is a disgrace to humanity and I hope his life is ruined.”Jailing Okugbeni for five years and four months and ordering him to sign the sex offenders register for life, Judge Prince told him: “The facts of your offending are disturbing to hear but, more importantly, they were terrifying for the two victims who were subject to them.”Alec Burns, defending, said Okugbeni has questioned whether his drink had been spiked that night but can’t prove it.The student has been sentenced to five years and four months and put on the sex offenders register The court also noted his remorse and efforts to help in his church since the incident, despite the crime being out of character for him.
