Former soldier jailed for hooded assault in which woman feared she was going to be raped before she bravely fought him off
Stuart Peters, 44, will be on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and was jailed for a year
A HOODED sex attacker has been jailed for an assault where the victim bravely fought him off despite fearing she would be raped.
Former soldier Stuart Peters used a hood to cover his face before carrying out the planned attack, in darkness, while his wife was away.
Newcastle Crown Court was told the victim had been wearing headphones and was unaware she was being followed until Peters grabbed her.
The attack happened in Berwick on November 4 last year near a small wood where the woman feared she would be dragged into and raped.
Despite her terrifying ordeal, the woman managed to bravely fight back and stop the attack.
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Peters, 44, of Yarrow Close, Tweedmouth, Berwick, continues to deny he was the attacker but was convicted of sexual assault after a trial.
Judge Tim Gittens sentenced the highly respected soldier turned security guard to a year behind bars.
Peters was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and abide by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.
The judge told him: "Your background and circumstances makes what I have to sentence you for all the more difficult to comprehend.
"What you did on that dark, damp night was to attack a vulnerable, lone female in the early evening get on a quiet residential street near to a cut that
took a pathway into a copse.
"You took the opportunity, I am satisfied, having followed her for at least a short distance, to come subtly behind her.
"She was completely unaware of your approach."
The judge said the woman showed a "forceful and brave" response to being attacked but has clearly been traumatised by her ordeal.
Judge Gittens added: "What is clear is that the complaint, understandably, thought you were going to rape her by taking her into that nearby copse, especially when she Turned to face a completely hooded figure, unable to see your facial features."
The judge said Peters was of formerly "exemplary" character who will feel shamed by his behaviour, which he described as "mystifying".
Mark Styles, defending, said Peters remains adamant he was not responsible for the sex attack.
Mr Styles said Peters does not pose a risk to the public and has lost his job and his good character as a result of the conviction .