Sex offender jailed for bid to rape student

Convicted sex offender Tommy Hanks tricked his way into a Huddersfield University hall of residence and confronted his 19-year-old victim in her bedroom.

Armed with a Stanley knife-type blade, Hanks threatened to stab the teenager and ordered her to remove her nightwear.

The student did as she was told but when Hanks put down the knife and turned his back she ran for help.

Hanks, of no fixed abode, fled still brandishing the knife. He was arrested two days later after he snatched the takings from a Huddersfield hair salon.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Hanks, who had been jailed in January last year for a sex assault, had denied attempting to rape the student but was convicted following a trial. The 37-year-old was also found guilty of possessing the bladed article and admitted the later theft offence.

He was given an order of imprisonment for public protection and will have to serve a minimum of two-and-a-half years before being considered for release by the Parole Board.