Attack on Mattock Lane was stopped when members of the public intervened

Body cam footage of the pursuit and arrest

A man from Ealing has been jailed for six years for attempting to rape a woman on Mattock Lane.

35-year-old Jakub Kowalczyk of Argyle Road, W13 was seen by witnesses throwing the sobbing victim over his shoulder at 1am on Sunday, 12 February this year.

Jakub Kowalczyk

The 41-year-old victim's cries for help alerted people in a nearby premises, who saw Kowalczyk carrying out the attack. They saw him in the shrubbery of a front garden pinning the woman to the ground and the police were phoned.

Other people alerted by the disturbance then saw Kowalczyk emerge from the undergrowth carrying the victim over his shoulders. One person, who was passing on foot, shouted out at Kowalczyk and he stopped the attack and put the victim down.

It was at this point that the police arrived and Kowalczyk was pointed out to them. He ran off, but officers gave chase and he was finally detained and arrested. Footage of the chase has been released and is shown above.

Kowalczyk just before he fled police

The victim was not injured, but was left distressed and requiring medical assistance.

Kowalczyk was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, 20 April to six years' imprisonment. He pleaded guilty to offence at the same court on 23 March.

DC Alan Wong Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command. "Kowalczyk carried out a terrifying attack on a lone and vulnerable woman. Thankfully members of the public heard her calls for help and called police; while other members of the public directly challenged him.

"I want to sincerely thank them for their assistance that night and the overwhelming evidence they subsequently provided. As a result, Kowalczyk has now been brought to justice and deservedly imprisoned for this despicable act."

April 21, 2017