A "dangerous young man" was caught after his own step-mum linked him to a terrifying robbery.
Keenan Fairclough grabbed a woman in a chokehold as she jogged through a park and dragged her into bushes. The dad demanded cash from her in his desperation for his fix of ketamine.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this week that the victim, Sharon Langley, took to Facebook to share her ordeal in the aftermath of the attack in Sherdley Park, St Helens. She was messaged by Fairclough's step-mum Cath Rylands, who was concerned from the description given that he was the culprit.
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The worried relative sent pictures of the 21-year-old, and it was confirmed he had been the attacker. His uncle Colin Rylands also said he had seen him wearing a tracksuit, walking in the direction of the attack.
Ms Langley had been on a run at around 1.45pm on May 20 this year and noticed a man "hanging around and dragging his feet by some bushes" during her second lap of the park. On her third loop, he was still "in the same spot slouched on railings".
As she passed the stranger, she felt him grab her neck from behind in a "chokehold" and drag her into the bushes. He repeatedly told her "I want money", but she managed to fight him off and screamed for help.
The complainant told him she did not have any cash, but that he could have her AirPods. The robber was then disturbed by a dog walker and fled.
Three days later on May 23, at around the same time, an off-duty police officer was jogging in the park when she became suspicious over Fairclough's behaviour. On-duty colleagues attended and arrested him, at which point he replied: "That's fine. I was in the park just walking around. That's all I'm doing."
A statement read to the court on Ms Langley's behalf described how she no longer goes running as she feels "unsafe". She added: "I don't think he was after money, sometimes I think he was going to kill me."
Judge Neil Flewitt QC said of the circumstances surrounding Fairclough's arrest: "It looks as though he was gearing up to do it again."
Charles Lander, defending, said: "He was gearing up in his need for ketamine. If he would have gone to the lengths he did again, one doesn't know."
Fairclough, of Phoenix Brow, admitted attempted robbery and was jailed for 40 months. He was also handed a restraining order preventing him from contacting Ms Langley or entering Sherdley Park for seven years.
Sentencing, Judge Flewitt said: "What you did to her must have been an absolutely terrifying experience for a young woman alone in a park. I've no doubt that you are quite a dangerous young man."
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