A tagged robber subjected an 18-year-old York woman to a violent sex attack in broad daylight, York Crown Court heard today.

Mark David Drummond, 35, bit his victim on the neck and reached under her clothes in attempt to touch her private parts, said Dan Edwards, prosecuting.

He had been tagged after being released early from a 30-month sentence for burglary less than three weeks earlier

Judge Paul Hoffman jailed him for three years and nine months and put him on the sex offenders register for life.

"This was a very nasty offence you committed within three weeks after release on tagging.

"That was a mistake if ever there was one.

"It was in my judgement a sustained violent incident. One of the most unpleasant aspects of it was that you sunk your teeth into the girls' neck. This was a young, vulnerable girl and bite marks were still visible when you were seen by the police.

"I don't doubt the trauma of that event will be with her for some time to come."

Drummond - who was living at a hostel in Robinson Court, Walmgate, at the time of the attack - pleaded guilty to robbery and indecent assault.

Mr Edwards said the victim, who lives in York, came face to face with Drummond by the River Foss in the city centre at 5.10pm on May 25. She was concerned because his eyes were glazed.

She walked passed him but "saw a shadow behind her", said Mr Edwards.

It was Drummond - who put his hand over her mouth, grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against the wall of a building.

Despite her screams and her punching him he indecently assaulted her.

When she managed to get free he grabbed her again, pushed her against some railings, and she feared he was going to throw her into the river. Only when she threw down her bag and jacket did he break off the attack, grab her property and ran off.

The woman screamed to a by-passer to stop the defendant but he got away. Police found him half a mile away in an alley way after searching the area with dogs.

DNA test on blood left on the woman's clothes matched Drummond's

Geraldine Kelly, defending, said Drummond had drunk two bottles of wine and committed offences only when drunk.

On his arrest he was immediately recalled to serve the rest of his 30-month sentence.

She handed in a letter which Drummond intended to send to his victim after sentencing. The judge said that was maybe the last thing she wanted.

Updated: 13:48 Wednesday, January 17, 2001