A convicted rapist branded a “dangerous predator” by a judge has been jailed again after dragging a jogger to the ground in a terrifying attack on the banks of the River Tyne.

Mark Rickman, who was jailed for life in 2005 for following and raping a lone woman, was out on licence when he struck again – this time targeting a 29‑year‑old runner on a busy riverside path near Dunston Staiths, Gateshead.

The court heard the offence bore “disturbing parallels” to his earlier rape, with Rickman once more selecting a young woman on her own in a public place and attempting to overpower her.

Released on licence – and unlawfully at large

Rickman, now 59 and of Cambourne Grove, Gateshead, has a long record of offending against women. He was jailed for life on 22 April 2005 after stalking and raping a lone woman, a conviction that led probation and police to assess him as posing a very high risk of serious harm.

Despite that history, he was released on licence in 2023. The court was told that on 12 November 2024 he was recalled to prison – but failed to return. It was while he was unlawfully at large that he went on to commit the latest attack.

Just three days later, on the morning of 15 November 2024, he made his way to the River Tyne, choosing a stretch of path popular with runners and walkers on the Gateshead side of the river.

Jogger confronted on popular riverside route

The victim, a 29‑year‑old woman, had set out for a run along the river shortly before 9.40am. She first noticed Rickman leaning on railings and looking out over the water as she passed. She greeted him politely and continued her route, crossing the Millennium Bridge into Newcastle before looping back to the Gateshead bank.

When she returned along the same stretch of path, Rickman was still there. As she approached, he stepped out and extended his hand as if to stop her for a conversation. Believing he wanted to speak, she slowed down and removed her earphones.

What happened next, the court heard, was sudden and violent.

“Without warning, he grabbed her wrists”

Prosecutor Miah Nath told the court that Rickman launched his attack without any warning.

“As she ran along the path next to the river, he extended a hand as she approached as if to stop her to speak to her,” he said. “She slowed down and removed her headphones to talk to him. Without warning, he grabbed her wrists and forced her down onto her back on the embankment. He kept trying to pin her down.”

The woman fought back, struggling to free herself as Rickman tried to restrain her. During the struggle he threatened her, saying: “Stop screaming or I will stab you.” No knife was seen, but the threat was enough to convince her she could be seriously hurt.

After a frantic two to three minutes, she managed to twist away and break free from his grip. She scrambled to her feet and moved away from him, terrified and in shock.

As she did so, Rickman snatched her headphones and fled, leaving her shaken and injured on the riverside path.

Victim: “I genuinely believed I could have been seriously harmed”

In a powerful victim impact statement read to the court, the woman described the lasting effect the attack has had on her life and mental health.

“He pinned me down and threatened to stab me if I didn’t stop resisting. At that moment, I genuinely believed I could have been seriously harmed,” she said.

“The incident left me very shaken and terrified. In the days following the offence I tried to carry on with my life as usual and forget about what had happened, but as time progressed I noticed myself not doing things I used to enjoy like running and hiking.”

The woman, who competes regularly in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and had always relied on sport to stay fit and grounded, said the attack had robbed her of her sense of freedom.

“Running and sport have always been a massive part of my life and before this I would train on a regular basis. Since this, I no longer feel safe going out on my own and try to avoid going out in public. I can no longer live my life the way I used to.”

She said she frequently replays the incident in her mind and worries about what might have happened if she had not been able to fight him off.

“I frequently think back to the incident and worry about what could have happened if I had not been able to pull him off. I don’t know what his intention was or what he might have done,” she said.

“I think about what could have happened to someone who lacked the training to escape and this worries me greatly. I often find myself replaying this incident in my mind and the memory triggers anxiety. Because the impact has been so significant, I’ve felt the need to seek professional help to process what happened.

“I no longer feel able to live my life the way I did before. I feel like I’ve lost my freedom and access to the outdoors, which has taken a significant toll on my mental health.”

Probation officer recognised him from rape case

Police launched an appeal following the attack, releasing details of the suspect and the circumstances of the incident. It was a probation officer who made the crucial link, recognising Rickman from the description and recalling his 2005 rape conviction.

Officers arrested him and he was later picked out by the victim in an identification procedure. Forensic tests also found his DNA on her arm, further tying him to the attack.

The court heard Rickman has 11 previous convictions, including the rape for which he was originally jailed for life. His record, the judge said, showed a “long‑standing history of targeting women who are alone and vulnerable in public settings”.

Judge: “You are a dangerous predator”

Rickman pleaded guilty to robbery in relation to the attack on the jogger. Sentencing him, Recorder Brian Whitehead said the offence had a “terrifying effect” on the victim and highlighted the striking similarities with his earlier rape.

Referring to the 2005 conviction, the judge said: “I’m disturbed by the parallels of targeting a young single female on her own.”

“You are assessed as posing a very high risk of sexual offending and a very high risk to members of the public, in particular lone adult females. Your offending history shows you have a long‑standing history of targeting women who are alone and vulnerable in public settings. You are a dangerous predator.”

The judge said there was “no real mitigation” beyond Rickman’s guilty plea.

For the robbery, Rickman was jailed for five years and four months, with an extended licence period of a further three years to reflect the ongoing risk he poses. The extended sentence means he will remain under supervision for longer after his release and can be recalled to prison if he breaches his licence conditions.

Public safety questions over supervision and recall

The case is likely to raise further questions over how high‑risk offenders are supervised in the community and what happens when they are recalled to prison but remain at large.

Rickman had already been recalled on 12 November 2024, yet was still free to attack the jogger three days later. For the victim, that gap has changed her life.

As she continues to rebuild her confidence, she told the court she hopes no other woman has to endure what she went through on what should have been a routine morning run.