A rapist from Brighton has been jailed for 11 and a half years after he attacked a dog walker in woodland.
Two passing joggers stepped in, pulling him off the woman and holding on to him until police arrived.
Brandon Woolven, 22, formerly of Grantham Road, Brighton, pleaded guilty to rape at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday (9 September).
This week, South Yorkshire Police said: “A 22-year-old man has been jailed for over 11 years after admitting violently attacking and raping a woman before two brave passers-by came to her aid.
“At 10am on Thursday 14 April, Brandon Woolven grabbed his victim, a woman in her twenties who cannot be named for legal reasons, as she walked her dog in woodland near to Pontefract Road, Barnsley.
“Woolven dragged his victim further into the wooded area and began physically and sexually assaulting her before going on to rape her.
“Two joggers passing by saw Woolven attacking the victim and intervened, pulling him away from the victim.
“One of the joggers was assaulted but managed to keep Woolven detained until officers arrived and arrested him.”
Detective Constable Becky Robinson, from Barnsley CID, said: “I have been working as a police officer for 16 years now and in all my service have never been faced with an investigation quite as horrifying as this one.
“Woolven attacked his victim at random, in broad daylight, and subjected her to the most brutal and sustained physical and sexual abuse imaginable.
“She has since told us that she believes that, without the intervention of the two passers-by, she would have been killed – such was the ferocity of Woolven’s assault.
“This was a truly terrifying incident and I want to wholeheartedly commend the victim in this case for her unerring support of the police investigation and for the immense bravery she has shown throughout.
“I also want to publicly recognise the bravery and heroism of the two members of the public who saw the attack and took action to protect the victim, in the process of which being injured themselves.
“Woolven is a truly dangerous individual and while he has pleaded guilty to the offences put before him, he has shown no remorse for his actions and I am pleased he has received a lengthy custodial sentence for his crimes.
“The victim in this case continues to recover from the physical and psychological injuries she suffered as a result of this attack and I hope that, with the sentence passed today, she is able to take another step forward on her journey to recovery.”
South Yorkshire Police added: “Woolven, of no fixed abode, but from the Brighton area, pleaded guilty to rape, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) at an earlier hearing.
I hope this dangerous predator is not even considered for parole.
As a psychologist I don’t believe in punishment but I do believe in security. Not only for the rapist – securely contained in a hall of residence type room with access to a campus of facilities for self improvement which is behind a high fence patrolled by the army.
Security is even more important for women. Doubling the sentence to 20 years with the possibility pf parole after ten years of training, education and therapy behind that fence might actually change this 22 year old into a decent human being.
And women would jog feeling slightly safer.
The bravery of the two people who saved her should be recognised by our new King. Knighthoods or dameships (is that the word?) are in order.
If there is a fund for the survivor please inform us of it. I am sure that a shower of affection shown by the public in the form of money would help improve her future chances of happiness.