The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
Thursday, Nov 01, 2012
Man stops in middle of attempted rape and apologises to victim
BRITAIN - A 41-year-old British man who tried to sexually assault a 16-year-old girl abruptly abandoned his attack and apologized to the victim, before handing himself to the police.
Gary Clarke was hit by a "sudden crisis of conscience" while he was attacking the teenager, and dropped the attack, Cambridge Crown Court heard Monday. He then took the girl home, after which he turned himself into the Parkside Police Station.
The court sentenced Clarke from Cambridgeshire to three years in prison for the attempted rape on the teenage victim.
The judge however, praised Clarke's decision to restrain himself from committing the heinous attack.
"It seems to me that it's a sign of your essentially good character and good nature that you were able to do this and you are essentially a decent man who for reasons which escape you acted completely out of character on that day," said Judge Gareth Hawkesworth.
Clarke's lawyer Melanie Benn said her client is "deeply remorseful for the trauma he had caused his victim." She added that the accused cannot explain what had happened.
"It was an impulsive offence, out of character, for which he has taken responsibility,"
