A Belfast man who tried to kidnap a female student inside her apartment block was today jailed for four and and a half years.

Passing sentence at Belfast Crown Court, a judge told Gareth Robert McClurg that he assessed him as being "dangerous" and said he would spend a further three years on licence on his release from prison "to protect the public''.

McClurg, 24, formerly of Tower Street, had pleaded guilty in June on the morning his trial was due to start to a charge of attempted kidnapping.

Prosecution lawyer Mark Farrell said the university student was returning to her apartment in Belfast city around teatime on August 24, 2015.

He told Judge Geoffrey Miller QC that she let herself into the secure communal area of the complex and noticed a male person behind her.

He said: "As she was walking towards the lift she felt some male grab her from behind, put his hand over her mouth to prevent her from speaking or screaming and dragged towards the door to the carpark.''

The court heard that during her attempts to scream for help, McClurg repeatedly said 'Sssh' as he dragged her towards the door.

"She began to struggle with him during the incident, which lasted no more than five to ten seconds, before the defendant eventually let go of her.''

The victim was able to get into the lift, said Mr Farrell, before making her way to her upstairs apartment.

The judge heard that CCTV footage showed McClurg struggling to get the door to the apartment block open before eventually escaping.

The student was able to give a description of her attacker but was unable to pick up him out of a VIPER identification system.

Crime scene investigators later visited the apartment block and recovered fingerprints from the door which were later matched to the defendant, the court heard.

The prosecution lawyer said that later the same evening, police responded to a report of a male in Victoria Square shopping centre in Belfast armed with a black handled claw hammer and was heard saying: "I am going to hurt someone.'' McClurg was arrested and taken into custody.

"We have no information to indicate a motive for the incident,'' said Mr Farrell. "The complainant would say that the motive was sexual in nature and she may have been targeted for a sexual assault.''

Although no victim impact report had been prepared for the court, Mr Farrell said the victim had found the incident a "very frightening experience'' but suffered "no long term consequences''.

He added that McClurg had an extensive record, which totalled 70 convictions, and had been assessed by the probation service as being dangerous.

Defence counsel Terry McDonald QC said McClurg had previously been treated in Muckamore Hospital for mental health problems and would require treatment and support in the future.

He added that McClurg had a difficult childhood and had problems with alcohol and drug addiction.

The defence QC said: "I would have some doubts about the sexual motive. It was a transient offence. There was no evidence of stalking. It was opportunistic. But he is aware that he is facing imprisonment.'''

Judge Geoffrey Miller QC said that whatever McClurg's motive for trying to kidnap the female student, she believed the motive was for a "sexual assault'' and the attack was a "serious and specified offence''.

The judge told the court that the incident had been a "terrifying and frightening experience'' for the woman which had had a "serious impact on her''.

He said a pre-sentence report assessed McClurg as being "dangerous'' and also a high likelihood of reoffending in the future.

He added: "In the circumstances I consider an extended custodial sentence would be adequate for the protection of the public.''

Judge Miller QC said that if McClurg had contested the charge at trial and was found guilty, he would have imposed a prison sentence of six years.

He added that taking all matters into consideration the appropriate sentence would be one of four years and six months in custody followed by three years on licence.

However, the judge said that if the Parole Commissioners deemed the defendant fit to be released after serving half his sentence in custody, McClurg would have to spend a total of five years and three months on supervised licence on his release.

We're testing a new site: This content is coming soon