A MAN has been sentenced to 40 months in prison after admitting sexually assaulting a woman at Sandford Lock.
Gary Norris, 34, of Luther Street, Oxford, was handed the sentence yesterday at Oxford Crown Court after pleading guilty to one count of sexually assaulting a female over the age of 18.
He sexually assaulted the woman next to Sandford Lock at about 12.40pm on Thursday, July 30 as she was walking alongside the river.
Police said Norris tried to speak to her and then grabbed her, pulled her into a bush and threatened her.
She managed to escape with minor cuts and bruises as a result of the attack and Norris fled the scene on foot.
He was arrested the same day and charged the following day.
Det Insp Michael Roddy said: “This was a traumatic experience for the victim but thankfully Norris was caught within a short period of time.
“This sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence. We hope that the victim involved can move forward and that the sentence will provide reassurance to the community that Thames Valley Police is committed to bringing offenders to justice.”
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