A CONVICTED sex offender who attacked a prostitute after leading her down a dark alleyway has walked free from court.

Michael Reaney later told probation officials that he got angry when he did not get his £20's worth.

The sex worker claimed that the burly former bus driver "suddenly changed" when they reached the alley and assaulted her.

Teesside Crown Court heard that 40-year-old Reaney grabbed her by her coat hood when she got frightened and tried to run.

As he tried to pull the jacket over her head, she was unable to breathe and got an injury to her eye from his flailing arms.

Six-foot Reaney fled with his trousers around his ankles and his victim's mobile phone when she started to scream for help.

Prosecutor Shaun Dodds told the court yesterday that he yelled at a passer-by: "Don't call the police, she's a prostitute."

Reaney - then known as Michael Eddy - admitted inappropriately touching a girl when he was a school bus driver four years ago.

After police were alerted, he bombarded his 15-year-old victim with text messages which included: “Run away with me?”.

He was given a community order with supervision for three years after he admitted sexual activity with a child and harassment.

He was on the sex offenders' register and being monitored when the latest incident occurred in Stockton in October 2013.

Mr Dodds told the judge, Recorder Martin Bethel, QC, that Reaney's victim was "clearly traumatised" by the 3am assault.

Nigel Soppitt, mitigating, said his client had been out drinking when he was "fairly vigorously approached" by the woman.

He said Meaney "succumbed" and added: "He tells me this is the first and last time he has ever consorted with sex workers."

Mr Soppitt said he was keen to return to work, but cannot get a job with children, and may have to drive lorries.

He got a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted actual bodily harm assault and theft.

Reaney, of Droitwich Avenue, Stockton, was told by Mr Recorder Bethel: "It was a terrifying situation down a dark lane at night."