One of the country's top judges has labelled a drunken woman who was sexually assaulted and almost kidnapped ‘foolish’ for drinking so much she left herself open to attack.

The 20-year-old woman was pounced on by teenager Yaqoob Alanezy who put his arms around her, kissed her and then dragged her 30 yards down a street in south Manchester .

Sentencing Alanezy, Mr Justice Gilbart said there was no excuse for the attack but people had to take responsibility for their safety when on nights out.

The High Court judge said the victim only had a 'befuddled recollection of events' adding: “I’m sure it was a frightening incident. She got very, very drunk. It doesn’t excuse what happened, but people have to make sure they protect themselves and guard against this - she made herself very vulnerable.

“The law seeks to protect victims such as this from their own foolishness.

“(The complainant) had got herself drunk, was in a public place, unable to protect herself and the law must be seen to protect vulnerable people from being picked on by those who spot their vulnerability and choose to attack them.”

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Alanezy, 18, attacked the woman after their paths crossed at Anson Road, in the Victoria Park area of south Manchester, in the early hours of August 20.

He dragged her down the street before they both fell to the floor.

The incident was stopped by a passer-by who saw the victim trying to push Alanezy off her as he lay on top of her in the street.

The concerned witness shouted ‘oi’ and ran over, prompting Alanezy to leave the scene.

Alanezy later pleaded guilty to sexual assault and kidnap - relating to the period where he dragged the woman along the road - at Manchester Crown Court .

He has now been given 22 months in a young offenders institution.

The court heard the victim had ended up in the area, which she did not know, after drinking in Manchester city centre and being invited to a flat by two men she met in town.

She fell asleep at the flat, left after waking in the early hours, was attacked by Alanezy in the street shortly afterwards, and has little recollection of events, the court heard.

Oliver Jarvis, defending Alanezy, who is from Kuwait and has been served with deportation papers, said the offence happened a couple of months after he turned 18 and that he had a supportive family determined to keep him on the right track.

“He tells me he’s deeply ashamed and deeply embarrassed”, Mr Jarvis added. “In Kuwait there’s no alcohol and the defendant came over here, tried alcohol for the first time and it’s been a real problem since, as a way of dealing with deep boredom.

“He makes no excuses, he had half a bottle of vodka that night and out he went into the street. This is not something that will be repeated. He’s very, very isolated in prison. He doesn’t speak any English, there’s a Libyan person he speaks to sometimes, but otherwise he keeps himself to himself and is really rather confused by everything, other than shame at the offending.”

Detective Constable Natalie McDonald of GMP’s City of Manchester Team said: “This was a terrifying attack on a young woman, who has been left traumatised.

“Everyone has the right to go about their lives without fear of being sexually assaulted.

“I would like to pay tribute to the victim for having the courage to come forward and help us convict her attacker.

“I’d also like to thank the passer-by who intervened. Without his help, Alanezy wouldn’t have been stopped and his actions played a big part in keeping the victim safe and putting Alanezy behind bars.

“Help and support will always be there for people who come forward and report sexual offences.

Victim blaming is disturbing, says charity boss

Mr Justice Gilbart's comments were unnecessary and disturbing, according to Fay Maxted, chief executive of The Survivors Trust, an umbrella agency for organisations which offer support for the victims of sexual abuse.

She said: “This is something that has been going on for decades, this victim blaming as opposed to looking at the behaviour of the perpetrator.

"Research has shown time and time again that attitudes towards victims from judges and barristers can be really punishing

“It is really disturbing and can have a massive impact. Comments like the ones made in court can deter victims from coming forward, Ms Maxted added.

She said: “So much effort is put into encouraging people to report these crimes and so for one to get to court and to see the judge victim blaming is just disturbing.

"If you report a burglary people don’t criticise you for leaving the curtains open. It should not be happening.

"The person who is at fault is the one who has taken advantage of someone vulnerable.”

Victims of sexual abuse can contact The Survivors Trust on 0808 801 0818.

Who is Mr Justice Gilbart?

One of the country's most experienced judges, Mr Justice Gilbart has had a varied career within the law.

The Cambridge graduate cut his teeth as a young lawyer in Manchester more than 40 years ago having grown up in East Sussex.

He represented Manchester Airport while a barrister specialising in planning during its fiercely contested but ultimately successful battle for a second runway in the 1990s.

As a judge he has presided over some of Manchester's most harrowing and complex criminal cases.

He served as Honorary Recorder of Manchester, the city’s most senior judge, from 2008 until he was promoted to the High Court in 2013.

Back in 2011, Judge Gilbart set tough guidelines for how the city should sentence summer rioters. The idea of Manchester courts having their own approach to sentencing was criticised by the Court of Appeal – but the tough sentencing stuck.

He also tried a string of notorious murder cases during his time in the city– including 2012’s trial of Mark Royle , who killed Oldham pensioner Nellie Geraghty in a mugging.

High Court judges tour the country hearing complex cases, as well as making decisions that shape the laws of the land from the Royal Courts of Justice London.

A married grandfather, he lists his hobbies on the Middle Temple inn of court as cooking. history and blues music.