NORWICH MAN DERRY BATES SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS FOR VIOLENT ASSAULT AND SEXUAL OFFENCE

A man who attacked and attempted to sexually assault a woman on a popular city footpath has been sentenced to eight years in prison. Derry Bates, 44, was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and attempting a sexual offence against a woman on Marriott's Way on May 24 this year. Bates, who chose not to attend his sentencing at King's Lynn Court, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment with a five-year extended licence. Judge Michael Turner described the attack as violent and stated: "This was a violent attack and there is no doubt you were intent upon a violent sexual assault at least and full rape at the very worst." He explained that Bates came from behind the woman, hitting her around the head before dragging her into a woodland area. Bates repeatedly punched her and pulled down her clothing, and the woman thought she was going to die during the assault, which occurred around 1:30 pm in broad daylight. The court heard how two men nearby responded to her screams and found her on the ground with Bates crouched over her, before he ran off. Bates had been released on a life licence just a week prior to the attack, having previously been convicted of three robberies against women in February 2006. The jury took an hour and 20 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict on November 26. The judge indicated that Bates presents a significant risk to women and has shown contempt for the trial process by refusing to attend court.