Attacker jailed (From Barry And District News)

Attacker jailed

BARRY civil servant who was subjected to a late night sex assault has seen her attacker jailed for four years.

Engineer Gregory Boulton, 31, admitted trying to rape the 30-year-old local woman after she rejected his advances.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Boulton, of Thistle Close, Barry, tried to chat her up on the late night train home from Cardiff.

Prosecutor, Michael Mather-Lees, said: "On the train, Boulton struck up a conversation with her. She was polite and amicable, but no more."

Boulton asked the woman to go for a drink with him when they got off the train, but she refused and started walking home. He caught up with her and chatted to her for some time before she insisted on walking home alone.

The woman told police: "He said good-bye and kissed me on both cheeks. He had his hands on the top of my arms. Then he started holding me tightly and I began to feel uncomfortable. I tried to push him off but his grip got tighter." Boulton put his hand over his victim's mouth as he forced her across the road and into a park.

There he pushed her to the floor and undid his trousers and her jeans, telling her: "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."

The woman said: "He was so calm it was frightening. I was hysterical." She later told police: "I have never felt terror like it before. I was crying hysterically and thought, this is it - he's going to rape me. Then he suddenly stopped and told me to just go home."

Boulton admitted attempted rape.

Lucy Crowther, defending, said he was deeply sorry for what he had done.

Miss Crowther said: "He appreciates he has put his victim and her family through sheer hell."

Judge David Wyn Morgan ordered Boulton to register as a sex offender.

He added: "I am fully satisfied that had you not come to your senses when you did, you would have subjected your victim to the indignity of rape.

"The effect of incarceration on you will be devastating for you and your family, who you have brought enormous shame and embarrassment on."