THOMAS DODDS

A woman showed remarkable bravery when she fought off an attacker who attempted to assault her after a night out in the city centre, leaving the assailant requiring hospitalization.

The incident occurred as the victim was walking home unaccompanied in the early morning hours.

Thomas Dodds began to follow her through the streets of Newcastle and continued to trail her for approximately 15 minutes.

According to the Newcastle Crown Court, she had crossed the High Level Bridge over the River Tyne and was in a less populated area of Gateshead when Dodds suddenly attacked her.

He pushed her to the ground and tried to remove her trousers.

The victim resisted fiercely, using her fingers to prevent him from biting her and hitting his head against the ground until she managed to break free.

As a result of her courageous efforts, Dodds required medical treatment at a hospital last August.

Police tracked him down after reviewing CCTV footage, which showed him wearing a Newcastle United football shirt with distinctive white sleeves.

Following the attack, Dodds went to a nightclub before seeking hospital treatment.

During his arrest, he claimed that his injuries came from being glassed, denied following the woman, and insisted it was a case of mistaken identity.

Aged 22 and residing in Ashington, Northumberland, Dodds has no previous convictions but later admitted to attempted rape.

Today, Judge Tom Moran sentenced him to a prison term of five years and three months, with an additional two-year extended licence period and a requirement to register as a lifelong sex offender.