Would-be rapist left battered and bruised by victim

This would-be sex attacker got more than he bargained for when his victim fought back.

Johnathon Holmes, 35, dragged a 21-year-old woman into some bushes in Sheffield city centre, but ended up getting a taste of justice.

She bit his tongue, hit him in the face and punched him in the stomach during the terrifying ordeal.

Prior to the attack, she realised she was being followed and contacted her partner and put her keys inside her hand to protect herself if needed.


Holmes has now been jailed for four and half years after Sheffield Crown Court heard his victim say she was convinced he was going to rape her.

She told the court: ‘My life would have been over – he might as well have killed me right there. I was so terrified but so angry.’




The victim was stalked for about a mile before he pounced on his victim (Picture: Ross Parry)

He was caught on CCTV in Sheffield city centre hiding behind walls and watching lone women after spending the afternoon and evening drinking in town.

He was then seen stalking her through the streets for more than an hour and the victim crossed the road three times to try and shake him off.

But he pushed her into some bushes and climbed on top of her telling her ‘you are going to enjoy this’.

Holmes began to grope her breast as his victim tried to hit him in the stomach, face and neck while screaming for help.

He told her to shut up and put his hand over her face and then forced his tongue into her mouth.

The woman bit down hard on his tongue and Holmes began to lose his grip on her.



Rachael Harrison, prosecuting, said the victim managed to get herself into a position over Holmes where she could put her keys against his neck and throat.

Two passers-by heard the woman’s cries for help and Holmes jumped over some railings as he tried to escape, injuring himself in the process.

Holmes was found by police at 1.30am that night and later told officers in interview he couldn’t remember the events of the night due to being drunk.

When he was interviewed by the police, he said he had no recollection of the incident but if it looked as though it was him, he was sorry for his actions.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, his victim said: ‘A few days ago I read about the body of a missing girl being found not far from where I was attacked. It made me sick to my stomach and brought everything back.

‘I just want this all over so I can go on with my life.’

Amy Earnshaw, representing Holmes, said: ‘He can’t say why he has acted as he did.’






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