A WOMAN whose boyfriend dragged her from a family party and launched a violent sex attack in the street has urged other assault victims to come forward.

Grant Beattie and Geraldine Marshall had been considering moving in together after a five-month relationship, but he claimed she had been unfaithful to him and flew into a rage.

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The 27-year-old, pictured above, who had taken drink and drugs, tore at Miss Marshall’s tights and underwear while trying to force her to the ground behind a car in the street last November.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Miss Marshall, from Consett, County Durham, eventually managed to get away.

Her torn underwear and tights were shown to jurors during the case, where she had to relive her nightmare by giving evidence against her former boyfriend.

But she has taken the brave step of waiving her right to anonymity to encourage victims of sex attacks to prosecute offenders.

Miss Marshall, 27, said: “I was terrified going to court. It must be the most scary thing I have ever done. But I am really glad I have done it, and that Grant is behind bars where he belongs.

“I want to encourage other girls to report their attackers to the police.”

Beattie, of Catherine Terrace, Annfield Plain, Stanley, County Durham, who had no previous convictions, denied sexual assault but was convicted by a jury after a trial in May, which featured CCTV footage of the attack.

Prosecutor Ian West told the court: “It was a violent sexual assault, probably as near to attempted rape as it’s possible to get without being an attempted rape.”

Jennifer Coxon, defending, said the attack was not planned and that the couple had been considering moving in together.

Miss Coxon added: “The alcohol he drank on that night certainly contributed to his behaviour.”

Earlier this week, Judge Stephen Earl jailed Beattie for three years and said he has to sign the sex offenders’ register for ten years.

Judge Earl told Beattie: “You dragged her behind a vehicle, seen on CCTV, whereupon you assaulted her, thinking you couldn’t be seen by as many people.”

Beattie was issued with a two-year restraining order to keep him away from Miss Marshall and her family.

She said: “I am just glad Grant is locked up.

“I wouldn’t want him to do this to anyone else.”