15/12/2009

Stockport Sex Attacker Jailed

A 29-year-old sex attacker who preyed on lone woman dog walkers in Manchester has been jailed.

Stuart Richard Hulme, of Councillor Lane, Cheadle, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to five offences of sexual assault, one count of exposure, one count of causing grievous bodily harm (Section 20 Assault), and one count of making threats to kill.

The charges relate to attacks in the Stockport area between May 2008 and July 2009 with victims ranging from 18 to 87-years-old.

He was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court to an indeterminate sentence for public protection and will not be considered for parole for three years.

He must also remain on the sex offenders register for life.

In the first incident, on Friday 9 May 2008, Hulme exposed himself to a 62-year-old woman who was walking her dog in Bruntwood Park. He then grabbed her from behind, wrestled her to the ground and sexually assaulted her. During this attack the victim sustained a broken arm.

In the second incident, on 4 June 2009, he sexually assaulted a 61-year-old woman who was walking her dog in Ladybrook Valley. Later that day he exposed himself to his third victim, a 64-year-old woman.

The third attack occured on 26 June 2009. He sexually attacked an 87-year-old woman in Bramhall Park as she walked her dog. This woman was in the early stages of dementia.

On 30 June 2009 he committed a further sexual assault on a 58-year-old as she walked in Bramhall Park with her dog.

The following day he sexually assaulted an 18-year-old woman as she walked alone in Woodbank Park, Stockport.

Such was the fear caused by Hulme's attacks that police asked woman and dog walkers in the Bramhall Park and Ladybrook Valley areas to take extra precautions.

Hulme was caught after forensic tests carried out on an item of clothing matched his DNA profile.

Detective Constable Claire Beach, of Stockport CID, said: "Hulme tended to prey on lone women, many of which were middle aged, while they were walking their dogs.

"We can only speculate about what drove Hulme to his carry out his perverted attacks. The important thing is that he is now where he belongs and where he cannot frighten or intimidate any more women."

(PR/BMcc)

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