A MAN who indecently assaulted a teenage girl in Runcorn last summer while pretending to be out for a jog was jailed for two years on Friday.

John Harvey, 28, was found guilty of attacking the 14-year-old while she was walking home in May of last year.

Warrington Crown Court heard last week that Harvey had attacked the girl with sufficient force to make her face bleed in Beechwood near to the entrance to Paddock Rise.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had heard footsteps approaching behind her and had turned to see a man in jogging gear.

She stopped, assuming he would run past. But Harvey grabbed her from behind and assaulted her.

She was later found in an extremely distressed state.

A forensic examination of blood found on sports clothing belonging to Harvey found that it was virtually certain to be that of the victim.

Harvey, who had denied the charge, was caught when four boys who saw the victim lying on the ground after the incident chased him.

One of the boys managed to get the licence plate number of Harvey's car. Harvey told the father of one of the boys, who had come out to see what was happening, that he came from Leigh in Greater Manchester.

Police traced the car, a red Ford Fiesta, to Leigh and arrested Harvey.

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