Jail for man who tried to strangle woman in the street

A man has been jailed after attacking a woman in the street and trying to strangle her.

Stephen Hawkins assaulted the woman on Newgate Street, in Bishop Auckland, on the evening of October 27 last year.

He was caught on CCTV pushing the woman to the ground and hitting her in the face with a pizza box before attempting to strangle her.

The woman managed to run away and hide before calling the police.

Response officers attended the scene on blue lights where they arrested 42-year-old Hawkins and brought him into custody for questioning.

He was later charged with assault, possession of a sharply pointed article in a public place – a pair of scissors - and harassment after breaching a restraining order put in place early last year to protect the woman.

Hawkins, of Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, admitted the offences and was jailed for 16 months at Durham Crown Court on Thursday, February 13.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said: “After this incident where Hawkins attacked me in the street I now fear any male might attack me without provocation, and I now go out less than I used to.

“I have paranoia and only leave the house when I have to.”

PC Alex Cave, of Bishop Auckland Response Team, led the investigation. He said: “This was a violent attack on a woman in the street, which has left her fearing for her safety whenever she leaves the house.

“I hope this sentence provides her with some comfort knowing that Hawkins is now in custody and cannot harm her any further.”