A KNIFE-WIELDING thug who wrestled a woman to the ground in a shocking attempted sex attack has begun a life sentence.

Masked Dean Straw pounced on the frightened lone woman in the early hours of the morning, forcing her to the floor before calling her a b****.

Straw, who was carrying a stash of condoms at the time of the attack, then tried to sexually abuse the panicked victim.

However, she managed to fight off the 26-year-old, jabbing him in the face with her keys and fleeing from the station underpass in Bill Hill, Bracknell. 

Straw was convicted of a string of violent offences and ordered to serve life in jail.

Speaking during a trial, Michael Roques, prosecuting, said: “He set out that evening with a balaclava, gloves, a knife and a sheath down the back of his trousers.

“So far he has a robbery kit, but we also know he has the condoms. Now he has a rape kit.”

Detectives investigating the case found gloves, balaclava and knife when they arrested Straw at Rectory Lane, Bracknell, on July 1 2017.

Straw denied the offences, but was convicted by a unanimous jury on charges of robbery, actual bodily harm (ABH) with intent, ABH and possession of a knife.

John Simmonds, mitigating, said: “What about this knife, why not pull it out or say I have got a knife? 

“I am not suggesting for a moment that by the time I have finished addressing you that you will have any degree of sympathy for him what so ever.

“But we do not try cases on sympathy. We are here to try the case on the evidence. He did not get the chance to use the condoms because he was not intending to rape.

“How many young men walk around with condoms on them?”

Straw, who appeared at Taunton Crown Court on Monday, March 26, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of four years and 10 months for robbery.

He was also jailed for two years and six months for ABH, four years and six months for ABH with intent and eight months for possession of a knife, all to be served concurrently.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Michele Green, of Force CID based at Maidenhead police station, said: “The victim suffered a distressing incident and has shown true strength and courage throughout the investigation and the trial.  I would like to praise the bravery of the victim who gave evidence which has resulted in the conviction of Dean Straw.

“Straw was already on license after being released from prison for two rapes in 2008, when he committed these offences.  

“He has now been sentenced and a dangerous offender has been taken off our streets.

 “Thames Valley Police will investigate serious offences such as this to their fullest and bring those offenders to justice through the courts.”