Ben Creek, 31, was found after CCTV pictures helped police identify him (Pictures: West Yorkshire Police)
A man wrapped a noose around a mum’s neck and then sexually assaulted her during her school run.
Ben Creek, 31, attacked the woman while she was walking back from dropping her child off at school in Holbeck, Leeds, on May 4 last year.
He dragged her to a nearby grassed area, choked her with the noose and pinned her to the ground.
But his victim, in her twenties, fought back and Creek was disturbed by a passer-by.
He ran off while disguising himself in a black beanie, a black face-covering and a black coat with a fur-trimmed hood.
Creek appeared to deliberately take a complicated route and was only able to be picked up by CCTV as a figure in the distance.
But one camera captured good quality images of him walking by and the police posted these on social media on May 15.
Ben Creek, 31, also exposed himself to a school girl on May 9 (Picture: West Yorkshire Police)
Creek was handed a 13-year suspended sentence behind bars (Picture: West Yorkshire Police)
This ‘immediately attracted a huge response from the public’ and Creek was identified as the suspect.
He was arrested on the same day it came out that he had also exposed himself to schoolgirl in Morley, Leeds, on May 9.
Creek was originally charged with sexual assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and committing an offence with the intention of committing a relevant sexual offence, as well as with exposure
The charges for the May 5 incident were later updated at court to Section 21 Offences Against the Person Act 1861 – attempting to choke, suffocate or strangle any other person in order to commit any indictable offence, alongside the sexual assault charge.
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He went on to admit further counts of indecent exposure to Leeds Crown Court where he was handed Creed a 13-year extended sentence on Friday.
Detective inspector Suzanne Hall said: ‘This was a very sinister and disturbing incident where a woman was brazenly attacked near to a busy road as she walked back from taking her child to school during the morning rush hour.
‘It was a terrifying experience for her, and we know it has left her understandably traumatised.
‘Women and girls should be safe to live their lives free from the fear of violence and harassment, and West Yorkshire Police’s Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy reinforces our commitment to increasing our focus, alongside our partner agencies, to make the county a safer place.
‘Taking dangerous offenders like Creek off the streets will always remain a key part of our work to keep women and girls safe.’
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The victim fought back and a passer-by disrupted the attack.
