A student who was grabbed and bundled down a dark alleyway in Oxford would have been raped if she had not fought off her attacker with a bunch of keys.

The alleyway next to the Jericho pub

That is the view of Det Sgt Ian Richings, of Oxford CID, who led the investigation that caught Andrew Williams, who was yesterday (Wednesday, August 25) convicted of indecent assault and sent to prison for three years.

Detectives will now re-examine unsolved sex crimes in Oxford to see if 23-year-old Williams, of Copse Lane, Marston, could have committed other offences.

His 26-year-old victim had been studying with friends and was walking along Little Clarendon Street and Walton Street before he pounced.

He tried to put her ease by saying "excuse me" but then grabbed her by the throat and pushed her down an alleyway next to the Jericho pub.

There he indecently assaulted her and would have raped her, but the woman lashed out at him with her keys and hit him in the face and groin before Williams ran off.

Det Sgt Richings said: "This was not a drunken joke. I have no doubt we would have been dealing with a rape that night - it was purely the fact the victim fought so vigorously that it was not a lot worse."

The woman, who is entitled to anonymity, said: "I'm extremely relieved that it is over and very pleased with the result.

"I have just got to being relaxed and confident enough to go out again, because I was in a state of shock for some time."

Det Sgt Richings added: "Williams showed a certain arrogance in the way he treated people and the way he spoke.

"He dismissed things when he was faced with clear facts - it was beyond belief it could have been anyone else."

Williams was caught by police the morning after the attack sleeping in his Ford Granada car - just yards from where the attack took place.

Fibres from the victim's blue jumper were later found on a black hooded top worn by Williams. During police interviews, he denied wearing the top, but later changed his mind when he was shown a CCTV recording.

Despite the evidence against him, he denied carrying out the attack.

Sentencing Williams at Oxford Crown Court, Judge Julian Hall said: "On that night last year, you had too much to drink, saw a young woman on her own and tracked her down, followed her and attacked her.

"She thought that she might be attacked, so put her key in her knuckles so when you dragged her down the alleyway she fought back and relatively quickly got rid of you - hitting you where it hurts. Someone ought to be able to walk home without fear of being tracked down by someone like you."

Williams will be put on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and have to register his address with police every time he moves.