A SEX offender who attacked a “vulnerable” student walking home alone has been locked up for four years for the “wicked” and "abhorrent" assault.

Michael White admitted grabbing the Oxford Brookes University student and dragging her into Headington Hill park before sexually assaulting her there in the early hours of April 13.

The attack on the “lone and isolated” woman, which he admitted on the first day of trial, came just two days after White was released from prison.

Thames Valley Police today released a photo of White, after his sentencing at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday.

Speaking at the court, Deputy Circuit Judge Patrick Eccles QC condemned White, who had been drinking, for attacking the “perfectly innocent” woman.

He praised the victim for trying to “beat off” her attacker, adding: “This must have been about as frightening an ordeal as could have been imaged by any woman.”

Today investigating officer Det Con Lorna Briggs, of Force CID based at St Aldates Police Station, said: “I cannot imagine how frightened the victim must have been, but bravely she managed to fight him off. 

“I am pleased that White has been sent to jail for this abhorrent sexual assault. The evidence we collated was so strong that White pleaded guilty to offence on the first day of the trial. Thankfully this saved the victim from the painful task of giving evidence at trial.”

In a statement read to the court, the victim said she was in a “pretty bad way” following the attack, shutting herself in her room and not eating or drinking.

She said she is still scared on the city’s streets, adding: “I started to believe the world was not a safe place to live in. The incident has made me terrified that this will happen again.”

Prosecutor Gary Venturi said the victim was walking home at about 5am, travelling from Headington Hill towards St Clement’s after working throughout the night.

He said she spotted the defendant, of Peat Moors, Oxford, standing behind her as she approached the park entrance but he said nothing and grabbed hold of her.

The student tried to hit White with her umbrella but failed to escape the 31-year-old’s grip.

The court heard the victim remembered being tugged through the mud into the park by White, who was jailed for drug dealing in 2014 and had 17 previous convictions for 26 offences.

Mr Venturi said White then put his hand over his victim’s mouth before sexually assaulting her. The victim screamed out when he moved his hand and managed to flee, with her shrieks being heard by residents nearby.

The prosecutor said the woman was left in a “daze”, leaving a note at a friend’s house soon after the attack when they failed to wake up, claiming she was “nearly raped”, and was later helped by passers-by out for their early morning run.

Defence barrister Peter Du Feu said White found it difficult to “face up” to his “appalling” offending but had been “brave” finally admitting the attack.

White must also sign the sex offenders register for life and pay a victim surcharge.