WHITEHAVEN MAN JAILED FOR ATTEMPTED RAPE SHORTLY AFTER PRISON RELEASE
UPDATE: Stephen Hodgson took his own life while serving his 8 year prison sentence................................................................................................................................................................................................................
A man attempted to commit sexual assault on a teenage girl during a break-in at her flat just days after he was released from jail for stabbing two women.
Stephen Hodgson, aged 23, of Whitehaven, targeted a 17-year-old girl in her Kendal home two weeks after his release, as heard in court proceedings.
His victim was only rescued when another individual in the building heard her screams and intervened.
Hodgson pleaded guilty to attempted rape and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Court reports revealed that Hodgson, during the attack on December 28, 2019, had been drinking and searching for prostitutes and escorts on his phone, as well as viewing child abuse images and videos of rapes.
During the assault, he punched the victim repeatedly, fracturing her nose and making her believe she was going to be killed, as reported in court.
A man who was nearby heard cries for help and ran into the flat to find her bleeding and amidst fallen Christmas decorations.
The victim stated she could not feel anything and believed she lost consciousness.
The woman issued a heartfelt victim impact statement expressing her feelings of fear, terror, and being terrified after the attack.
It was also noted that Hodgson was just released from a 39-month sentence for stabbing two women with a carving fork at an 18th birthday party in 2016.
The judge, Nicholas Barker, described Hodgson as a danger to the public and ordered a lifelong registration on the sex offenders register, as well as an extended five-year licence period following his release.
