Man who sexually assaulted teenage girl jailed

A  man who grabbed a 16-year-old girl from behind and sexually assaulted her has been jailed.

The victim was walking along Bolton Road, Darwen, at around midnight on 25 June this year, when she heard the sound of somebody running behind her.

James White, 39, placed his hands over her eyes and dragged her to the ground, before saying: “I don’t want to hurt you.” He then sexually assaulted the victim.

The victim attempted to call her mother on FaceTime, while using her mobile phone to strike White several times.

White tried to knock the mobile phone from her hand.

The victim believes White was disturbed by the noise the phone made while calling her mother and so he got up and ran off towards Darwen town centre.

During the scuffle, the victim managed to take two screenshots of the call which captured White’s face.

Via CCTV enquiries, officers managed to identify White’s white Mercedes A180 as being in the area at the time of the attack.

He was arrested on Olive Lane, Darwen, later the same day and, following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, subsequently charged with sexual assault and assault causing actual bodily harm. He was remanded into custody.

White, of Sudellside Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to both offences when he appeared before Blackburn Magistrates' Court on 28 June.

He was remanded back into custody to appear at Preston Crown Court to be sentenced on 9 August when he was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.

Derek Artis, District Crown Prosecutor for the CPS North West Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said: “James White is clearly a danger to women. He targeted a teenage girl as she walked along the street and launched a terrifying sexual attack upon her.

“She showed great courage by using her phone to contact her mother whilst at the same time fighting him off, causing him to stop the attack and run away.

“Every woman and girl should be free and feel safe to go about their daily lives, including walking alone, without fear of harassment or sexual offences. The CPS is committed to bringing offenders who commit crimes against women to justice.”

DS Sarah Tucker, of Lancashire Constabulary, said: “This was a terrifying attack committed against a teenage girl walking home at night – something she was perfectly entitled to do without fear of White engaging in this appalling behaviour. Although offences like this are rare, I want to ensure the public that when they do happen, Lancashire Police are committed to doing everything they can to quickly identify the offender and put them before the courts.

“I want to praise the bravery and quick-thinking of the victim in this case, who managed to scare off and capture crucial evidence against White. I know this attack has had a profound impact on her and I hope today's sentencing will bring her some sense of closure.”