A judge’s conclusion that a dark street gave a would-be rapist the chance to attack a young woman supports the call for the return of all-night street lighting, according to a campaigner.

Tina Brooker, from Gravesend, welcomed the comment made by Judge Martin Joy when he imposed a 10-year extended sentence for public protection on attempted rapist James Huggett.

He said the 22-year-old from Minster, Sheppey, “took the opportunity” to pounce on his victim in a particularly dark part of a road where a street lamp was not working.

It is the second time in less than two months that a judge at Maidstone Crown Court has commented on the lack of street lighting in connection with sex crimes.

In December, Judge Philip Statman was hearing the case of a prolific sex offender when he said women ought to have the protection of well-lit roads and passageways despite cost-cutting measures by councils.

His remarks were made less than a week after Kent County Council ended its 10-week public consultation period on whether residents wanted to see a return to all-night lighting or maintain part-night lighting whereby street lamps are switched off between midnight and 5am.

An Environment and Transport Committee meeting to discuss the outcome is due to be held on February 12.

Miss Brooker, who has fought for almost two years for the return of all-night street lighting across the county, has passed on the judges’ remarks to KCC.

She said every such comment was “a help” to the campaign and also intended to write to both judges to ask for their support.

“This is the second judge who has passed comment on sex crimes and the part played by lack of street lighting.

“This is the problem councils nationwide are putting residents under, by forcing us to prove the necessity of street lighting in the vulnerable hours. This is fundamentally and morally wrong, in my opinion.”

Huggett attacked his victim, Chanel Purchase, just yards from her home in Sheerness. Miss Purchase, who later waived her right to anonymity, bravely fought him off and her screams alerted a neighbour.

Passing sentence, Judge Joy said: “It was a dark street and there was a place where a street lamp was not functioning. It was particularly dark and that’s when you decided to attack her.”

He later described Huggett as taking the faulty light as his opportunity to pounce, having walked her home from the town centre in spite of her efforts to “positively discourage” him.

It was while adjourning sentencing of John Guscott that Judge Statman remarked on the need for lighting.

Guscott, from Chatham, faces life behind bars for 47 offences of sexual assault, exposure, robbery and actual bodily harm.

“If ever there was a case which shows just how important it is for street lights and pathway lights to be on, it is this one,” said the judge.