Predator jailed for Norwich sex attack on woman on night out

Paul Bamforth, 62, had been out in the centre of Norwich alone and was watching late-night revellers on Prince of Wales Road when his victim walked past him.

Norwich Crown Court heard Bamforth began following her down the road towards the river.
Prince of Wales Road in Norwich (Image: Newsquest)He shadowed her as she turned onto Riverside Road and along Wherry Road, towards the football stadium, before attacking her near the Riverside Leisure Centre.

Wherry Road, near to the Riverside Swimming Pool and across from Carrow Road (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Matthew Sorel-Cameron, prosecuting, said Bamforth repeatedly demanded the woman give him her underwear and grabbed her, pushing her to the ground.

He sexually assaulted her and stole her underwear, before leaving.

He was arrested after officers recognised him on CCTV.

The court heard the attack, on June 16 this year, happened just a year after Bamforth had been released from a previous seven-year prison sentence for rape, imposed in 2008 after he attacked a woman in a Norwich car park having spotted her in the street.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)His most recent victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, suffered a number of injuries in the attack.

A victim impact statement, read aloud in court, detailed the effect Bamforth’s "terrifying, mortifying and surreal" assault had had on her life: "Although physically I survived, mentally it has destroyed me. I no longer recognise myself, I feel numb and dead inside."

Bamforth, of Jasmine Court, Attleborough, who has five previous convictions for 14 offences, including rape in 1992 and again in 2008, appeared at court on Monday (September 25) having admitted robbery and assault by penetration.

Paul Bamforth (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

Imposing an extended 15-and-a-half year sentence for the "reprehensible attack on a lone woman making her way home" Judge Katharine Moore said Bamforth was a "predatory sex offender".

Judge Katharine Moore (Image: Newsquest)Judge Moore said: "People ought to be able to walk the streets in safety not in fear."

She said the way in which Bamforth had watched his victim as she walked home from the city was a "most troubling" aspect of the case.

Prince of Wales Road in Norwich (Image: Newsquest)She said in her judgement Bamforth had been in the city to "carry out a sex attack" and targeted the victim, upon whom the offence has had an "enormous" psychological impact.

Judge Moore said there had been a "significant degree of planning" to the offence by Bamforth who she said was a dangerous offender.

She said: "You place no value on the lives of your victims' or their families.

"When you want a sexual encounter, you take it regardless of the damage you cause to your victim or their families."

Bamforth, who will serve seven-and-a-half years in custody and have an extended eight year period on licence was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) until further order.

He was also put on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Joyce said: “Bamforth is a dangerous sexual predator who has now been removed from our streets for a considerable length of time.  

“No sentence of any length will heal the mental wounds caused by Bamforth.

"His victim will have to live with his actions for the rest of her life.

"I do, however, hope that today will mark the next step in her healing process and provide her with some closure."

He added: "As a police force, we are dedicated to supporting victims of sexual assault and will continue to work to put these offenders behind bars.”