A VICIOUS THUG WHO LAUNCHED AN ‘UNPROVOKED AND O

A VICIOUS THUG WHO LAUNCHED AN ‘UNPROVOKED AND
OUTRAGEOUS ASSAULT UPON A COMPLETE STRANGER’ WAS ORDERED TO PAY
HIS TERRIFIED VICTIM #350 COMPENSATION.

PETER MCDERMOTT,21, GRABBED HIS FEMALE VICTIM – ‘AN
INNOCENT PASSER-BY’ – AROUND THE NECK AND SQUEEZED HER THROAT SO
TIGHTLY THAT SHE PASSED OUT.

SOUTHWARK CROWN COURT HEARD THAT MRS MARIAN ALEXANDERS
WEEKEND BREAK TO LONDON TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE MOMENTS AFTER
SHE LEFT THE TRENDY BRAHMS AND LITZ WINE BAR IN COVENT GARDEN.

MRS ALEXANDER AND HER HUSBAND HAD AN ARGUMENT AS THEY
LEFT AND SHE WALKED OFF ALONE PASSING MCDERMOTT IN THE STREET,
SAID MR JOHNATHAN INGRAM PROSECUTING.

SHE HEARD MC DERMOTT MUTTER SOMETHING AS SHE PASSED BUT
IGNORED HIM AND CARRIED ON WALKING.

‘AS SHE LOOKED BEHIND HER SHE SAW MCDERMOTT RUNNING
TOWARDS HER.

SHE WAS GRABBED BY THE NECK FROM BEHIND AND A HAND
WAS PUT OVER HER MOUTH TO STOP HER SCREAMS,’ SAID COUNSEL.

PASSERS-BY WHO RUSHED TO HELP HER WERE TOLD BY MCDERMOTT
THAT MRS ALEXANDER WAS HAVING A FIT.

‘MCDERMOTT HAD BOTH HANDS AROUND HER NECK AND SHE WAS NO
LONGER SCREAMING BUT MAKING A HOARSE NOISE AS IF SHE WAS
CHOKING,’ THE COURT HEARD.

MCDERMOTT WAS ARRESTED BY POLICE OFFICERS CALLED TO THE
SCENE AND TOLD THEM ‘I DIDN’T WANT TO HURT HER’.

MRS ALEXANDER, 32, A SENIOR CLERICAL OFFICER, OF DUKES
ROAD, BURNSIDE, GLASGOW WAS LEFT SHAKEN AND WITH BRUISES TO HER
NECK AND THROAT, SAID COUNSEL.

MCDERMOTT, A PLASTERER, OF ROWLAND HOUSE, NELSON SQUARE,
SOUTHWARK PLEADED GUILTY TO CAUSING MRS ALEXANDER ACTUAL BODILY
HARM ON JULY 19 THIS YEAR.

DEFENCE COUNSEL MR JAMES VINE
SAID MCDERMOTT: ‘HAD DRUNK A VERY GREAT DEAL THAT NIGHT.

THAT IS
THE ONLY REASON HE CAN GIVE FOR ACTING IN THIS EXTRAORDINARY
MANNER.

‘
SENTENCING MCDERMOTT TO 12 MONTHS JAIL SUSPENDED FOR TWO
YEARS JUDGE LOWE SAID : ‘IT WAS AN UNPROVOKED, OUTRAGEOUS AND
INEXCUSABLE ASSAULT ON A COMPLETE STRANGER.

THAT WOMAN LOST
CONSCIOUSNESS AND WAS LEFT SHAKEN AND UPSET.

THE JUDGE ALSO ORDERED MCDERMOT TO MAKE A FINANCIAL
CONTRIBUTION TO THE LEGAL AID FUND FOR THE COST OF THE HEARING.

ENDS*CENTRAL NEWS SERVICE, PRESS ROOM, OLD BAILEY.

LONDON,EC4

TEL: 01 236 0116

SOUTHWARK CROWN COURT/JP

28 OCTOBER 1986

ATTACK.