Sex attacker who 'prowled' city for victims jailed

A enactment attacker who "prowled" a metropolis centre trying to rape women has been jailed.

Swansea Crown Court heard Leo Payne, 20, from, Bonymaen, Swansea, attacked 2 women successful the metropolis successful the aboriginal hours of 23 June.

The 20-year-old was besides seen exposing himself and performing a enactment enactment successful public, earlier hitting a antheral with a vino bottle.

He pleaded blameworthy to 2 counts of attempted rape, intersexual battle by penetration, exposure, and unlawful wounding.

Warning: distressing content

Payne was fixed a 16-year sentence, of which 11 years and 3 months volition beryllium served successful prison.

Carina Hughes, prosecuting, said Payne assaulted the archetypal pistillate successful the mediate of the roadworthy connected Strand, Swansea.

The tribunal heard the unfortunate fought back, and the onslaught stopped erstwhile 2 taxi marshals chased him distant portion his trousers were down.

Less than an hr aboriginal helium sexually assaulted a 2nd pistillate connected Orchard Street aft lying to her that helium had a knife.

The unfortunate shouted for assistance and the onslaught was halted erstwhile members of the nationalist stepped in.

Later Payne was seen with his trousers down and performing a enactment enactment connected Walter Road.

The tribunal besides heard Payne deed a antheral aggregate times with a vino bottle, erstwhile helium intervened arsenic Payne followed different woman.

Ms Hughes work unfortunate interaction statements by some women successful which they spoke of their fearfulness of walking unsocial since the assaults.

Hashim Salmman, defending, said Payne’s young age, deficiency of erstwhile convictions and blameworthy pleas should beryllium taken into relationship erstwhile sentencing.

Judge Paul Thomas KC said Payne’s attacks were chillingly frightening.

“You targeted a fig of lone and truthful susceptible women close successful the bosom of Swansea metropolis centre,” helium said.

“You were intent connected sexually assaulting immoderate lone pistillate who crossed your way that night.

“Then you continued to prowl the city, continuing to exposure yourself and masturbating.”

Judge Thomas said had the nationalist not intervened Payne would person succeeded successful raping some women.

He was jailed and enactment connected the enactment offenders registry for life.

After sentencing, CPS Cymru-Wales' lawman main Crown prosecutor, Iwan Jenkins, said Payne “prowled the metropolis centre carrying retired a run of terrifying intersexual attacks and convulsive offences”.

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