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.

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.