A man who attacked a woman from behind on a riverside path and told her “you're coming with me for some fun” has been jailed.

Jack Smith, 24, punched and kicked his victim to the ground and then dragged her along by her arms and legs during the sexually-motivated assault near Kingsmead Road in Canterbury.

He was only stopped when a brave passerby intervened and scared him off.

The woman had been walking along the path shortly after 6am on December 17 last year when Smith pounced, wrapping his arms around her.

As he told her he was taking her away for “some fun”, she offered him money and her bag in the hope that he would let her go.

But Smith repeatedly punched her in the head and kicked her to the stomach when she started to scream.

As she fell to the ground, he began to drag her away, but a man walking nearby heard the noise and came towards them.

Smith ran off and the victim and the brave passerby sought refuge at a nearby business, where staff called police.

DNA evidence led to Smith being identified as a suspect and he was arrested and charged on Sunday, January 19.

The victim, who had no connection to Smith, was not seriously physically injured in the attack, but was left shaken and psychologically distressed.

She gave evidence against Smith during the trial after he denied charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence.

He was convicted by a jury at Canterbury Crown Court in August and jailed today for six years.

Kent Police's senior investigating officer DI Eleanor Miller said: “I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of the victim and also thank the man who came to her aid on the day of the assault.

“I am in no doubt that his chance intervention prevented Smith committing a serious sexual offence against this victim.

“I hope the investigation, conviction and sentence give her a sense that justice has been served and offer her a degree of closure on the events of that morning.

“The incident and Smith's actions in court show he is a dangerous man and I am pleased this sentence will see him taken off the streets for some time and, when released, he will be subject to the sex offenders' notifications requirements.”

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