A LANCASTER man who attacked a 20-year-old student as she made her way home after a night out has been jailed. Preston Crown Court was told that James 'Elton John' Garside committed the offences to be sent back to prison. The court heard that the terrified girl who was studying at Lancaster University, was told by Garside: "I've got a knife. I'm going to kill you, stop screaming." The girl carried on screaming despite the threats and eventually Garside left her.

Garside, 23, of Hubert Place on the Marsh estate in Lancaster admitted indecent assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. After a trial in June, a jury found him not guilty of attempted rape. At the time of the offence, Garside was on license for robbery for which he received a five year sentence.

He was jailed for three years for the indecency and assault plus another 13 months for the unexpired portion of his previous sentence making a total of four years and one month.

Mr Richard Haworth, prosecuting, told the court that the girl had been out on December 6 with friends.

As she walked past the entrance of the football club she heard a shout and was grabbed from behind and dragged backwards and forced to the ground. The girl carried on screaming despite the threats and was slapped across the face before Garside indecently assaulted her. Garside left and nearby residents who heard the screaming came to help the girl.

Mr Jeremy Lasker, defending, said the experience must have been frightening for the girl. At the time of the offence, Garside was unhappy with the hostel he was staying at. There was no sexual motive behind the offence. The motive was to get back into prison.

Judge Brian Duckworth replied: "It would have been a lot easier to chuck a brick through a window. Before condemning the attack saying: "This was a vicious, nasty and brutal assault."

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