Ryan Stubbs, of Sunderland, admits he is afraid of what he is capable of after his latest conviction for pouncing on a stranger in a random city centre attack
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A woman was followed then pounced on and beaten up in a 'truly shocking' random attack by a thug who previously targeted a lone stranger in a sex attack when he was just 13.
Ryan Stubbs suddenly put his hand around the woman's mouth and his arm around her neck after stalking her as she made her way to work on a quiet city centre street early in the morning. He kicked her to the ground, warned her he would kill her then rained kicks and punches on her.
Only when he became spooked by her petrified screams did he stop the attack, running off. As the 26-year-old former soldier was sentenced, it was revealed he admits he is afraid of what he is capable of, having twice previously targeted lone women when he was just 13 - sexually assaulting and attacking one of them and later admitting he wanted to rape her.
Newcastle Crown Court heard it was shortly before 7am on March 3 last year when the 41-year-old victim was walking along on a deserted street in Sunderland city centre, on her way to get the Metro to work.
Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said: "She had not spoken to anyone since leaving home and she was unaware of anyone following her. She suddenly became aware of a hand over her mouth from behind and an arm around her neck, with force applied."
Stubbs chillingly warned the woman "I will kill you, I will kill you" before kicking her to the legs with sufficient force to knock her to the ground, where she was repeatedly kicked to the left side of her body.
Mr Perks said: "She tried to kick out at him to keep him away but failed to connect and she began screaming for help. CCTV shows at least five kicks and two punches.
"As a result of her screams, the defendant ran away. He seems to think about going back at one point."
The woman suffered cuts to her mouth and swelling to the left side of her body and bruising to her leg. She said in a victim impact statement she had been left traumatised.
She added: "I couldn't understand why why someone I don't know would attack me like this. It was shocking to me.
"It took me days to process everything and made me terrified about going out of the house and I'm scared about going out in public now. I have to watch my back at every turn.
"I run from place to place for protection and I live in fear and question everyone around me. I look for a travel buddy when It get off the train - I find someone and ask to walk with them for my safety.
"I was terrified he could have had a knife and think it could have been worse if I had not screamed and ran away.
"I've no idea why he assaulted me. this terrified me because it was so unexpected and I fear it could happen again at any time."
In addition to the CCTV showing the attack, further footage was recovered and images were circulated, leading to Stubbs being identified and arrested.
The court heard the 26-year-old, of Marley Crescent, Sunderland, has a previous conviction and a warning for targeting lone women as a youth. In January 2010 he followed a stranger, forced her to the ground before brandishing a knife in her face. He was given a warning for possessing a bladed article.
Then in 2010, while still 13, he got a referral order for sexual assault and battery. On that occasion, he approached another lone female stranger, forced her to the ground, dragged her into bushes, straddled her, sexually and physically assaulted her and later admitted he was sexually aroused and would have raped her had she not fought him off.
For the latest attack, he admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was locked up for 30 months. He was also given a 15-year restraining order.
Recorder Tom Moran said the attack was "truly shocking". He added: "This has had a terrible effect on her, not surprisingly." The judge said Stubbs had told a probation officer he was "afraid of what you were capable of and said you could snap at any time".
Recorder Moran said: "There's plainly something seriously wrong with you and your thinking. This was an entirely unprovoked, random attack on a stranger on a quiet road early in the morning and you also threatened to kill her."
Helen Towers, defending, said: "He is a very young man who has been 13 years offence-free. He feels shame." She added that he had been in the army and had an extremely traumatic childhood.
The court heard he attributes his behaviour towards women to his anger towards his mother. At the time of the offence he was dependent on alcohol and possibly cocaine and had PTSD.
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