Bristol kerb crawler jailed for attacking prostitute
A Bristol kerb crawler who picked up a prostitute, drove her to a secluded spot and grabbed her throat as she attempted to flee has been sent to jail.
Peter Stacey offered Sarah Jones money for sexual services before driving off with her against her will and clasping his hands around her neck when she produced her phone, Bristol Crown Court heard.
-
A Bristol kerb crawler has been jailed for attacking a prostitute
When she did manage to escape his grip and run, Stacey gave chase and threatened to kill her before passing motorist Neil Hendy stopped to help.
Stacey, 44, of Chiltern Close, Warmley, was convicted of false imprisonment but admitted taking a vehicle without consent, driving with excess alcohol and without a proper licence.
He was jailed for a minimum of three years and 256 days. Judge Michael Longman, imposing imprisonment for public protection, said: "The pre-sentence report concludes you represent a high risk of serious harm to lone females."
The judge said that if Stacey is released from prison he will remain on licence for the rest of his life. He was banned from driving for two years.
Summing up the case, the judge said Ms Jones was working as a prostitute and was vulnerable to the dangers it brought.
He told Stacey: "You went to Stapleton Road for the purpose of picking up a prostitute. You saw Sarah Jones there and you called her over to the car you were driving.
"You pretended to agree a price and go with her to Frenchay; you had no intention of doing that, you wished to take her to a remote place and you drove to a rural area."
The court heard Ms Jones became concerned and Stacey offered her more money, saying he was going back to Bristol. It was then that he pulled up in a remote spot at Tytherington, south of Thornbury, and his car got stuck in mud.
The judge said: "When she got out her mobile you lunged at it. You lowered her seat, pinned her down and put your hands on her neck. She felt she was being suffocated, she had difficulty breathing and she wanted to get out of the car.
"You didn't let her go but she was able to slide out from under you and get out. She felt that saved her life."
The court heard that as Ms Jones ran away and hid, Stacey chased after her and threatened to kill her. She managed to get away, though, when passing motorist Mr Hendy spotted her and gave her a lift.
The court was told Stacey had previous convictions including a burglary on an elderly woman he knew, three robberies on women and causing grievous bodily harm on a prostitute who he approached, having asked her for "bondage".
George Threlfall, defending, said his client had first appeared before a court for violence aged 34, in connection with a revenge attack, and his mother and partner were standing by him.
He conceded that though Ms Jones suffered no real physical injuries, she was very frightened by her ordeal.
20 Comments
View all
by know nothing, bristol
Thursday, July 02 2009, 8:34PM
“This is not about prostistutes - it's about a seriously disturbed guy. He's meant to have a supportive 'partner' - yet who's car had he 'borrowed' to trap the prostitute?”
by sarah, yate
Thursday, July 02 2009, 7:53PM
“The woman may well have been a prostitue but she still has the same basic human rights as any one else out there! She shouldn't have to be treatened with her life for not having sex. And from the sounds of it she wasn't actually paid!
That man is in the right place and f you ask me he shoudl stay there for the rest of his life! He obviously isn't stable and doesnt offer much to the rest of society! He obviouslt has probelms controlling hos sexual urges along with his temper!”
by Lisa, Bristol
Thursday, July 02 2009, 6:40PM
“Anna, as an ex prostitute surely you must know there is help out there for prostitutes. But for some it is an impossible hill to climb, for reasons that you should be aware of. I doubt that many women one day decide to become a prostitute, it is the cards that life has dealt them. And my remark about kerb crawlers was aimed at Michelle implying that the girls caused men to be roaming the streets looking for girls. If there were no kerb crawlers yes, they would be pimped in other ways.”
by sue, bris
Thursday, July 02 2009, 4:04PM
“having lived in wilderstreet ,st pauls and seen women practically forcing themselves in to kerb crawlers cars and the the messed up drugged up state they are in of course they are inviting trouble to themselves.as a mental health worker i know how bad some of these womans past have been ,i have nursed them .their life stories are horrific and every next punter is another paying abuser.
one even approached my son when he was 11 till i threatened to knock her block off,
sorry its a crap job but we all have a choice which paths we take an there are services to help sex workers ,i dont advocate violence towards these girls but hey its a golden rule dont get in cars ,dont take mack and get off thye streets ,some peple make lousy choices and the punters are looking for vunerable drugged up girls,
i have seen girls as young as 13 on the street,
its pathetically sad .car crash in slow motion”
by Anna, St Pauls
Thursday, July 02 2009, 3:41PM
“As an ex-prostitute I can understand Michelle's point. It is correct though that at the time I felt like there was nothing else I could do to raise money to just live. But these conditions we work in are terrible and people do need to educate these prostitutes in order for them to get out of danger. I do have to admit it is not always the fault of the men in the cars as sometimes I have even stopped cars in the road and tried to get business. It's a risky thing to do. But as I was uneducated on the risks and whatelse I could do there was no other option for me.
As for Lisa's comment.-If there were no curb crawlers then we'd go elsewhere! This will always go on unless help is available.”