A SEX stalker who snatched a schoolgirl from the street is starting ten years behind bars - after being trapped by his shoe.

Martin Hedley was hooded and masked when he followed a teenager, grabbed her and tried to drag her to a secluded spot in Shildon, County Durham.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton said he believed Hedley - who fled when his victim's screams were heard and two men ran to help - would have at least tried to rape her.

He was caught after police recovered one of his distinctive shoes, which had come off when he fled the scene.

The Northern Echo:

The shoe that was left at the scene of the attack

The 34-year-old was said to have lacked confidence with the opposite sex and resented the way he had been treated by women in the past.

On the day of the attack in January, Hedley argued with a female friend, and spent hours boozing in a pub, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.

Afterwards he disguised himself with a paintball-type mask and pink rubber gloves, selected a victim and stalked her for almost a mile.

Thinking she was being followed, the girl zig-zagged across roads and chose to walk in areas which were well-lit, said prosecutor Paul Abrahams.

Hedley struck when she approached a footbridge over a railway line.

The pair fell over when the attacker grabbed her around the mouth and told her to be quiet, but as he dragged her off, the girl started to scream.

A couple at a nearby dance studio and a man who was watching television at home heard the cries for help and rushed to assist the terrified teenager.

Chris Baker, mitigating, told the court that Hedley had no memory of the evening, so it could not be said what he had in mind when he grabbed the girl.

A psychiatrist said in a report that it was difficult to asses his risk because he had never been in trouble, but said alcohol was a major problem.

Mr Baker said: "It is accepted it is of a very serious and disturbing nature, but it is his first conviction . . . there are underlying issues.

"You don't commit this type of offence without underlying problems. It seems there's a lack of confidence around women and to a certain extent resentments."

Hedley, of Byerley Road, Shildon, admitted kidnap and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence and was jailed for ten years.

Judge Bourne-Arton ruled that he was a danger to the public, and should serve an extended five years on licence, and go on the sex offenders' register for life.

The judge said: "You planned this offence. You were prepared, it's obvious. You got a disguise, a terrifying disguise. You were hooded up and were wearing goggles.You pose a significant risk of carrying out serious harm to members of the public."

The mother of Hedley's victim told The Northern Echo: "I don't even want to think what could have occurred if those three people had not heard her scream. She might literally owe them her life."

Detective Constable Natalie Horner, of Durham Constabulary, said: "I want to say a massive 'thank-you to all the witnesses involved in the case.

"Special thanks to the three people who came to the aid of the victim, and saved her from what would have been an even more sinister incident."