January 2016

Convicted sex offender blamed alter ego for his terrifying sex attack on woman

A CONVICTED sex offender who subjected a woman to a terrifying assault blamed it on his alter ego.

Kenton Stevens, who has a previous conviction for having penetrative sexual activity with a child, saw the woman as she walked home alone through Midsomer Norton in the early hours.

After she became anxious and started to run he chased her, punched her, clasped his hand around her mouth and threatened to kill her, Bristol Crown Court heard.

He then tried, but failed to pull her trousers down before fleeing when a nearby resident told him police were coming.

When police tracked him down he told them a person called “Jay” was inside him, and Jay did things which he could not remember.

Stevens, 25, of Valley Walk, Midsomer Norton, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment with intent to commit a sexual offence in August last year.

It was just nine days after magistrates handed him a community order for threatening behaviour and assaulting police.

Judge Martin Picton is due to pass sentence tomorrow.

Rupert Lowe, prosecuting, said after a birthday party, at which a “substantial quantity” of vodka and Tia Maria dark liqueur was consumed, Stevens accompanied her to Midsomer Norton at 12.50am, where they found the pubs were closed and decided to walk home.

Mr Lowe said Stevens and his friend’s sister became separated when he went off to urinate.

Stevens never caught he companion up, instead catching sight of his victim, who was walking home at around 1am.

The court heard that as the complainant walked towards Church Lane she caught sight of Stevens, crossed the road and he cried out: “Its 1.10am, why are you out on your own?”

She thought Stevens looked “completely out of it” as if he had been taking drugs before he suddenly stood in front of her and blocked her way.

Mr Lowe said: “When she asked him what he wanted, he smiled back with a crazed smile.”

The complainant walked on, phoned her friend and, hearing his footsteps, began to run.

But he chased her to some bungalows, knocked her over, causing her to strike her nose on the ground, rolled her on her back and pinned her down.

Mr Lowe said: “He started punching her violently to the face. She could not move but screamed for help. Her friend heard her scream.”

Stevens tried to pull the woman’s trousers down, but failed, and she screamed again thinking she was about to be seriously sexually assaulted.

With that, Stevens punched her again to the head and tried again, but failed, to pull down her trousers.

When resident Dominic Strawbridge saw what was happening, and the woman screamed “Help me!”, he told Stevens police were coming and Stevens fled.

He blamed the assault on Jay after his arrest.

The victim picked out Stevens in an ID procedure.