Serial sex attacker who disguised himself in silver wig and Versace dress before assaulting 18-year-old student is jailed for five and a half years

Mark Brown was caught on camera stalking the 18-year-old on her Fresher's night out on September 20, 2019

A serial sex attacker who disguised himself in a silver wig and Versace dress to assault a student has been jailed for five and a half years.

Mark Brown was caught on camera stalking the 18-year-old on her Fresher's night out on September 20, 2019.

The 30-year-old, in black boots, a dress and wig, pounced on the woman and threw her to the floor near Newington Green, Islington, and thrust his hand under her skirt.

Brown ran back to his home and originally denied being the person in the CCTV footage wearing 'dark-coloured women's clothing and a shiny silver wig'.

But at trial he accepted it was him and said he followed the young woman in the hope of robbing her rather than carrying out a sexual assault.

Police searched his garden and found a black leather jacket with latex gloves in the pockets, a t-shirt and a long silver wig.

Wood Green Crown Court heard Brown was jailed in 2012 for a string of 'strikingly similar' offences, including seven sexual assaults on lone women.

He was out of prison on licence when he carried out his latest early hours attack and flouted a curfew to target the young woman.

Brown, of Newington Green, denied assault by penetration but was convicted.

In a victim impact statement the woman said: 'I have never lived a single day normally since.

'What happened to me that night affected my day-to-day life in such a way that I feel it has changed me as a person.

She said she now feels anxious and vulnerable around strangers and has 'lost trust in people'.

The 30-year-old, in black boots, a dress and wig, pounced on the woman and threw her to the floor near Newington Green, Islington, and thrust his hand under her skirt

Judge Joanna Greenberg told Brown he was a dangerous sexual predator. She said: 'This offences has had a profound psychological effect on the victim's wellbeing.

'She was 18-years-old, alone, at just before 4am, and wearing earphones so unable to hear you rushing up behind her.

'You were watching for a suitable victim, and such a suitable victim for you was a young lone female. You wore a disguise which demonstrates considerable planning.'

Judge Greenberg ordered Brown to serve at least two thirds of his prison sentence in custody before being considered for release and imposed an extra three-year licence period once he is set free.

She urged him to 'engage in offers of help and recognise problems, particularly sexual predatory problems, which you have'.