AN attacker who tried to get his victim to withdraw her complaint to the police is facing an "almost inevitable" prison sentence.

Ricky Henderson pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm bad perverting the course of public justice.

Henderson, of Shelley Road, Middlesbrough, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court next month.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, told him: "A custodial sentence is almost inevitable in your case."

The 23-year-old admitted assaulting the woman on August 7, and over the next week, asking her to tell police she wanted to halt proceedings.