Knifeman is jailed for Oswestry railway path attack
A knifeman who attacked a woman on an isolated Shropshire footpath – only for his victim to fight back and grab the blade – has been jailed for two years.
Kristopher John Jenkins followed the woman, in her 60s, as she walked to work along the old Cambrian railway line at Coney Green, near Oswestry, and grabbed her by the neck before holding a kitchen knife against her.
But the woman fought back and lashed out at Jenkins with her right elbow, causing him to drop the knife and the woman to fall backwards and hit her head, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.
The victim then grabbed the knife and said to Jenkins: "Come on then, I have got the knife – what are you going to do?"
Jenkins, of Maple Avenue in Oswestry, ran from the scene after the attack last October while the woman was later taken to hospital and had five stitches in a hand wound.
The woman was praised for her actions by Judge Robin Onions.
He said: "She fought back, gets the knife and confronts the defendant who turned and went off down the railway path. A single lady on an isolated footpath – she fought him off with remarkable determination."
Police arrested Jenkins after the attack and found the weapon to have his and the victim's DNA on it.
Jenkins claimed to have no memory of the incident, the court was told.
Judge Onions added: "This was an exceptional serious offence. Mr Jenkins, you worry me. There is no explanation for your offence. It was random and isolated and if it hadn't of been for the determination of the victim it could have been worse.
"You are a very high risk of harm to the public."
Judge Onions sentenced Jenkins to two years for actual bodily harm, which was aggravated by the use of a weapon, and 12 months for threatening with a weapon. Both sentences will run concurrently.
