Man threatened to stab young woman, court hears
Police at the scene of the incident near Scotland Road in Little Bowden last November (File picture) and, pictured below, the artists' impression of Peter Smith released by police following the attack in Little Bowden.
A MAN threatened to stab a young woman and forced her to the floor of a dark alleyway at knife-point before sexually assaulting her, a court heard..
Peter Smith (32) says he was attempting to rob the 23-year-old during the ordeal in Scotland Road near Little Bowden, Northampton Crown Court was told this morning (Wednesday).
But opening the prosecution case on day one of the trial, prosecutor Mary Loram said Smith’s defence that he was a ‘hapless robber’ was being used to disguise more sinister motives.
Smith, of Rushton Road, Rothwell, is accused of attempted kidnap, sexual assault and possession of a knife in the incident on November 17 last year. He also stands accused of, on February 18, attempting to kidnap a 17-year-old girl in Rothwell Road, Desborough.
Mrs Loram told the jury Smith says that incident was also an attempted robbery.
But in neither case were any items stolen, she said, despite both women carrying expensive smartphones.
Mrs Loram said the first victim had been walking along Scotland Road at about 7pm when a car pulled up. Smith got out, said Mrs Loram, and followed the victim up the alleyway.
“He approached her and held out a Stanley knife,” she said.
“He said ‘Do what I tell you otherwise I’m going to stab you.’ He told her to lie on the ground and he got on top of her and appeared to be thrusting against her. He put a hand up her skirt and tried to pull down her tights. But he appeared to be pretty hopeless and gave up.
“He told her to get up and said he was going to stab her.
“The victim grabbed his arm and realised she could overpower him. She started calling for help and he ran away.”
Report from court by Ian O’Pray. Follow him on Twitter.
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