A MAN who banged a woman’s head against metal railings and then dragged her into a pitch dark park has been jailed for 13 years and four months.

Jeremy Blake Simmons told his vulnerable 19-year-old victim he had a gun and even threatened to kill her.

Just moments before he had run up behind her in Leigh Road, Eastleigh.

Simmons, 20, punched her then kicked her to stop her screaming.

Prosecution barrister, Christopher Wing, said how the woman was left feeling anxious, depressed and suffering nightmares following the attack in Leigh Road Recreation Ground.

Daily Echo:

Simmons, of no fixed address, said he had been trying to rob the woman who had been wearing headphones and was oblivious to his presence.

A jury at Southampton Crown Court previously heard he "did not manage to take anything" because the police arrived and he was scared off.

He was only stopped when a quick-witted CCTV operator alerted police to the attack.

Furthermore, his victim had managed to call 999 so the whole ordeal was heard over the phone.

Simmons earlier pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm, making threats to kill and one count of kidnap.

But following a three-day trial at Southampton Crown Court in March, he was found guilty of kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence.

He also pleaded guilty to a separate incident of robbery and four counts of fraud.

During a similar attack, Simmons stole a handbag from a woman who had become separated from her friends in East Park, Southampton.

He ran up behind her and kicked out her legs, the court heard.

Defending, Elisabeth Bussey-Jones, said that her client’s life had spiralled out of control following the death of his mother in 2019.

She argued he had been subjected to severe abuse and neglect as a child.

Ms Bussey-Jones mentioned his low IQ of 60 and stressed that Simmons is vulnerable.

Judge Christopher Parker QC branded him a danger to the public - especially to young women - and gave him an extended sentence following the attacks on August 1 and August 4 last year.

He was jailed for a total of 13 years and four months.

Simmons will serve a minimum term of eight years and four months.

Upon his release, he will spend eight years on licence.