10 years' jail for prolific sex attacker Nigel Turner who returned to comfort victim

33-year-old admitted subjecting girls as young as 16 to 'predatory and premeditated' attacks in Bristol

Prolific sex attacker Nigel Turner and items seized during the investigation (Avon and Somerset Constabulary)

A prolific sex attacker who returned to comfort his victim minutes after brutally assaulting her has been jailed for 10 years.

Nigel Turner, 33, admitted subjecting girls as young as 16 to "predatory and premeditated" attacks in Bristol.

Turner, wearing a disguise and rubber gloves, waited in dark alleyways before jumping on his terrified victims.

In one incident, he crept up on a 24-year-old woman before placing his hand over her mouth and attempting to drag her to a secluded spot.

She fought back and screamed as disguised Turner forced her to the floor. He had to abandon the attack when a vehicle arrived at the scene.

But in a chilling twist, he reappeared minutes later in different clothes and comforted his victim, telling her he heard her screams.

Bristol Crown Court heard Turner initially denied his crimes but later admitted sexual assault, causing a woman to engage in sexual activity without consent and assault by beating with intent to commit a sexual offence.

The married engineer also pleaded guilty to three charges of voyeurism and an offence of theft, in which he stole £900 of women's underwear from her home and garden.

Judge Neil Ford QC handed Turner a 10-year term after ruling that the "dangerous" offender left young women at a "high risk" of being attacked.

The judge said: "The fact remains you are unable to restrain yourself from committing these offences. You are assessed as a high risk of causing serious harm to young females in the future."

The court heard Turner, who is still on good terms with his wife, carried out his first attack on 11 May last year.

His 16-year-old victim was walking home with a friend in the St George's area at 10pm when they walked into an alleyway.

The judge said: "You were waiting in the darkness of the alleyway. You were wearing a hat and had your jacket zipped up to the nose."

Turner jumped out and grabbed his victim before groping her and attempted to pull the girl further into the alleyway but was fought off by her friend.

"This was a premeditated and planned attack on a young woman to satisfy your desire to contact women with large breasts."

On 30 May, Turner attacked another 16-year-old girl as she walked home at 9pm in Longwell Green.

Turner, wearing a disguise, threatened the girl with a knife before forcing her to undress and perform a sex act on herself as he held his mobile phone towards her.

In his third attack, on November 28, Turner jumped on a 24-year-old woman as she walked past an alleyway in Kingsway.

He placed his hand over her mouth but she managed to scream and the attack ended when a car passed the scene.

After the attack, Turner changed his clothes and returned to help comfort the victim and walk her home.

"This was a terrifying night-time attack on a lone woman," the judge said. "It was planned and its consequences have been grave."

The court heard police discovered a large quantity of women's underwear - some unwashed - in Turner's loft on January 26.

Officers examined his phone and found two videos of a woman and a photograph of her, taken through a window.

Turner admitted filming a woman through a window as she showered on January 14, 2011.

Judge Ford extended Turner's prison sentence from seven and a half years to 10 after ruling him dangerous.

Turner touched his wedding ring but remained emotionless as the sentence was passed.

Edward Burgess, representing Turner, read a letter he had written apologising to his victims.

He said: "I wish to express my deepest apologies to my victims and their families.

"However, I am aware this apology can never make up for what my victims and their families have had to go through. I am deeply ashamed of what I have done."

His victims quietly sobbed in the packed public gallery during the hearing.

After the hearing, prosecutor James Ward said: "This sentence properly reflects the seriousness of Turner's offending.

"The fact he has been found dangerous reflects the fact he is likely to go on to commit similar serious pre-planned offences against females in the future.

"It will now keep the people of Bristol safe from further harm."

After the hearing, Detective Inspector Mike Buck from Avon and Somerset police said: "This particular series of sexual assaults left residents living in fear of Nigel Turner. He preyed on lone women for his own sexual gratification.

"He is a predator and I have no doubt if he was not caught he would have gone on to commit a more serious crime.

"The sentence handed to Turner reflects the serious nature of his crimes and I hope it sends out a clear message to all that we will bring offenders of sexual assault to justice."

Lead investigator Detective Constable Alice St Johnston paid tribute to the courage of the victims: "Their support has been amazing and I'm so pleased they know Turner has been caught and he cannot go on to do this again."

PA