A violent sex offender who left a woman in hospital after repeatedly beating her has been jailed.

Alexandru Gritar followed his unsuspecting victim for more than a mile after she got off a train in Tonbridge during the evening on Sunday, September 22 last year.

When the pair were close to Shipbourne Road, Gritar pounced on his victim, sexually assaulting and repeatedly punching her.

The victim, in her 30s, was found with injuries consistent with being strangled, cuts, abrasions and suspected concussion and was taken to hospital.

Police quickly found CCTV footage showing the suspect walking closely behind the victim.

A suspicious car was located and stopped by police the following day.

It was later revealed the driver was not involved in the incident but shortly before the offence had given a lift to a work colleague.

This led officers to an address in Hildenborough, where Gritar was arrested.

The 46-year-old, of no fixed address, was interviewed and confirmed he was the man on the CCTV, which also showed him visiting the same shops the victim had entered.

However, Gritar denied following her and claimed he had gone to the shops to buy glue for his shoes and then got lost.

He was bailed with conditions, pending results of forensic tests, but on October 10 was again arrested in Wales, after attempting to board a ferry to Ireland with false documents.

At around the same time, results of the forensic tests provided a match to the suspect’s DNA, from the victim’s clothing, and Gritar was charged and remanded in custody.

"Gritar is a dangerous and predatory sex offender who subjected his victim to a truly terrifying ordeal"

Appearing before Maidstone Crown Court he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and with committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence.

He also admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and of possessing a false identity document with improper intent.

Gritar was sentenced at court yesterday to five years and two months in prison, with an extended licence period of five years.

He will have to serve a minimum of two thirds of the sentence before he can be considered for parole.

Gritar was also added to the sex offenders' register, indefinitely.

Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Marcus Cameron, who said: "Gritar is a dangerous and predatory sex offender who subjected his victim to a truly terrifying ordeal, forcing her to endure a brutal and sustained assault.

"I have no doubt he would have continued to pose a serious threat to other potential victims had he not been caught and I’m therefore thankful we have been able to provide irrefutable evidence in court, leaving Gritar with little choice but to plead guilty.

"The victim in this case is continuing to recover from the injuries she sustained and has little memory of the actual assault. Her courage and determination to assist our investigation has ensured justice has now been served and I do hope this sentence will now provide her some further comfort and reassurance."

Read more: All the latest news from Tonbridge