A pervert who made a terrifying attempt to kidnap and rape a young woman he tried to snatch from a Carlisle street has been jailed.

Alan Hughes, 59, had spent time watching sick online videos about the rape of teenage girls before he drove to Carlisle in February to find a victim, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

The victim was walking home from the city centre up London Road, when she noticed a grey Peugeot 207 at the entrance of Hilltop Heights Hotel.

She carried on walking until she turned onto a side street near Harraby Green Road.

At this point the same car was approaching her, and, as she walked past it, Hughes ran at her and grabbed her with both arms.

A struggle ensued as Hughes attempted to restrain her but the victim managed to break free and run away.

His intended victim, a woman in her twenties, screamed so loudly for help that her throat was still sore three days later. Hughes was caught after the woman made a mental note of his car's registration number.

During a previous hearing Hughes admitted attempting to kidnap the woman in the Harraby Green Road area on February 3.

He also pleaded guilty to a second charge of carrying out that crime with intent to rape.

The defendant wrote a letter to his victim which was read aloud in court.

Claiming he was a committed Christian, he said he wanted to apologise for his actions and he hoped that she would be able to forgive him.

Passing sentence today, Judge Peter Davies said Hughes posed a serious risk of harm to the public.

Jailing the defendant for eight years, Judge Davies banned Hughes, of Tolcross Road, Glasgow, from ever working with children or vulnerable adults.

He must also serve an extended 13-year licence period.

Speaking after the case, Detective Sergeant Tracey Nimmo, from North Cumbria CID, said: “I’m pleased at today’s sentencing and that Hughes will now spend a considerable amount of time in prison for his actions.

“This was a terrifying and pre-meditated stranger attack. Hughes pursued his unknowing victim down a long stretch of road before attempting to kidnap her.

“He admitted in court that he did so with intent to sexually assault her.

"This man is a clear danger to society and people are now safer for him being in prison.

“He has shown little remorse for his actions and this was evidenced by the initial lies he told in his first few interviews.

“I would like to thank the victim for her bravery and courage shown throughout this investigation. I also concur with the judge's decision to commend her for her bravery.

"Her ability to fight off her attacker and memorise the registration number during such a horrific ordeal enabled us to make quick and informed enquiries in our bid to trace her attacker."