A Wainscott man who dragged a teenage girl off a street in Greenhithe in an attempt to rape her has been jailed for more than five years.

Paul Richard St John Cooke, formerly of Winston Drive, was charged after his quick-thinking victim stored his number in her phone.

He was sentenced to five years and three months in prison by a judge at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday, June 15.

He had previously pleaded guilty to one count of attempted rape and one count of possession of amphetamine.

The 30-year-old had stalked his victim as she walked along London Road in the evening of October 10 last year, riding his bicycle slowly behind her before speeding up and passing her.

Cooke then appeared on foot and dragged the 18-year-old victim into some bushes.

He tried to force her to perform a sex act but was interrupted by someone walking past.

While Cooke was distracted, his victim snatched his phone and quickly put her phone number into it.

She then called herself from his phone so she would have his number stored.

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When Cooke became distracted by another passer-by, the victim hurried away and went to a nearby fast food shop, where workers called the police.

Officers attended the area and arrested Cooke - whose mobile phone contained the victim's phone number.

In interview, he claimed he had met her on the street and she had given him her phone number but officers were able to work backwards and prove that Cooke had been acting suspiciously earlier in the evening, approaching females he did not know and following them around.

He was found to have a quantity of amphetamine on him when he was arrested.

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Investigating officer, Detective Constable Hollie Brown of Kent Police, said: "Cooke carried out a terrifying assault on his victim, which has no doubt left her traumatised and I imagine she will feel the effects of this in years to come.

"However, despite her fright, she acted with incredible courage, from her quick thinking at the scene to her dignity and bravery in supporting a police prosecution against her attacker.

"Kent Police has specially-trained officers dedicated to investigating sexual offences and victims should be assured they will always be taken seriously and treated with care and compassion.

"I consider him a danger to women and believe he deserves to be in prison for his actions."