A man who sexually assaulted a woman multiple times only a day after his release from prison has been branded a “danger to women”.

Ashley Banks, aged 35, from Letchworth, and of no fixed abode, was found guilty of several offences at St Albans Crown Court on Thursday, December 22.

He was found guilty of non-fatal strangulation, ABH, two counts of sexual assault by touching, two counts of sexual assault by penetration and assault by beating.

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During the two-day trial, the court heard that in July 2022 Mr Banks sexually assaulted a woman multiple times, before punching her repeatedly in the face and putting his arms around her throat in the stairwell of an address in Letchworth Garden City.

Banks then assaulted a member of the public who intervened during the attack on the victim.

Investigator Lauren Shelley, who led the case, said: “Strangulation, even momentarily, is extremely dangerous.

“Our priority was to safeguard the victim from further harm.

“She was terrified of Banks and was therefore understandably unable to support a police investigation.

“However, Banks is a danger to women and, due to the serious nature of the offences, we were able to investigate independently and gathered enough evidence, including CCTV footage, to bring him before the courts.”

The court also heard that when Mr Banks was arrested that day, he kicked a police officer and was racially abusive towards another.

He was also found guilty of assaulting an emergency worker and racially aggravated public order.

Mr Banks is due to be sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Friday, February 17, 2023.