John Elsender, jailed for voyeurism, sexual assault, assault, strangulation and threatening with a blade(Image: Northumbria Police)

Newcastle voyeur attacked and sexually assaulted victim when she rumbled him recording her

John Elsender, of Slatyford, has been jailed for voyeurism, assault, sexual assault, strangulation and threatening with a blade

by · ChronicleLive

A victim of a voyeur was attacked by him after discovering he had been covertly recording her.

After realising he had been rumbled, John Elsender confronted the woman with a knife and grabbed her by the neck. When told her husband would be there soon, he warned her: "I best get this done before he gets here".

Newcastle Crown Court heard he then grabbed her clothing and tried to pull her top up, saying he wasn't going to let her tell anyone what he had been doing. Anne Richardson, prosecuting, said: "He struck her on the side of the head and she hit him back.

"He grabbed her round the neck, trying to squeeze but she didn't give him the chance and pushed him away. He was still shouting that he was not giving her the chance to tell anyone else.

"He pulled her to the floor by her hair. She got the knife from him and swiped it towards him, cutting his arm." The woman then managed to call the emergency services.

In a victim impact statement, she said the incident has had an "immense impact", adding: "The trauma of the experience left me with overwhelming anxiety and sky-high stress levels.

"No-one will truly understand the impact this had on my life. I still have nightmares and find myself wondering if this will ever get better. Even now, I can't imagine it will."

Elsender, 60, of Woodbrook Avenue, Slatyford, Newcastle, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to voyeurism, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, sexual assault, intentional strangulation and threatening with a bladed article. He was jailed for a total of two years and nine months and must sign the sex offenders register indefinitely and be subject to a restraining order indefinitely.

Recorder David Gordon said: "This has had a terrible effect on the complainant, perhaps not surprisingly in the circumstances. One can only hope in the fullness of time there will be healing and recovery."

Jeremy Barton, defending, said: "To say he has had a fall from grace would be an understatement. He is deeply ashamed of his behaviour.

"He has been a good citizen, he has been in employment and he has been a good father and husband."