VIDEO: CCTV helped convict Knottingley sex attacker who targeted early-morning walker

CCTV footage pieced together by police helped convict a predatory sex attacker who was jailed for 12 years today.
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Thomas Joshua Bird, aged 30, from Knottingley, was sentenced this morning at York Crown Court.

Images, including some from his own home, were pieced together by investigators and helped convict him of four offences following a trial in November.

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These included two counts of attempted sexual assault, sexual assault, and failing to provide the police with the PIN to access his phone during the investigation.

Sex attacker Thomas Bird was jailed for 12 years.Sex attacker Thomas Bird was jailed for 12 years.
Sex attacker Thomas Bird was jailed for 12 years.

As a result of the attack, the victim is still suffering from injuries sustained to her jaw, shoulder, leg, and ribs, as well as significant trauma.

The attack occurred at around 6.54am on Thursday, June 18 when the victim - who is aged in her 60s - was walking alone beside the A1246 between Fairburn and Holyrood Lane.

He approached her from behind, pulled her to the ground, and sexually assaulted her.

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The victim bravely fought with Bird who ran off towards Fairburn. She reported the incident immediately.

CCTV helped piece the investigation together.CCTV helped piece the investigation together.
CCTV helped piece the investigation together.

Intensive police searches and enquiries were carried out in the effort to identify and arrest the suspect.

This included a trawl of public CCTV in the area and a media appeal for private CCTV and dash-cam footage from passing vehicles between 6.15am and 7am that day.

Dozens of reports were submitted including sightings and possible CCTV and dash-cam footage to assist the investigation.

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A team of detectives from York and Selby CID - supported by the Major Investigation Team - worked to identify Bird as the suspect, which resulted in his arrest on June 28, 10 days after the attack.

Crucially, CCTV footage was recovered in Fairburn village on Cut Road.

Located about 1km away from the attack scene, the footage was captured around 30 minutes before the incident at around 6.30am.

It showed a man matching Bird’s description walking down to Fairburn Ings nature reserve.

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Based on that image, CCTV development work established that the man had arrived at the location in a black Vauxhall Astra car.

Further work was required to identify the car itself and then its recent movements using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) data

Ultimately, Bird was linked to the car through insurance records.

The Operational Support Unit carried out the arrest and Bird was taken into custody for questioning.

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A search of his home led to the recovery of CCTV footage from inside the property, including him leaving at 6.07am. He was wearing fluorescent orange trousers and top and appeared to be setting off to work.

Face masks matching those worn by the attacker were also recovered inside, as well as surgical-type gloves which he is also believed to have been wearing during the attack.

Bird refused to provide the PIN to his phone to assist the investigation.

Prior to the attack, CCTV shows Bird’s car driving into Fairburn. It passes a lone woman, turns around, and then parks near to the Ings.

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The driver is seen to change into dark clothing before he follows the woman on foot.

Detectives were able to trace this woman and discovered that she had stopped to speak to a fisherman by the Ings.

It is believed that Bird may have intended to attack her but was disturbed by the fisherman’s presence.

Instead, he returned to his car and changed out of the dark clothing. He then drove away towards the scene of the attack where he again changed clothing.

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Following the attack, CCTV recorded at Bird’s home address - only a couple of minutes away - showed him returning and disposing of the dark clothing in a work’s vehicle.

He was re-arrested on 20 July.

Bird's victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court how the horrific ordeal had ruined her life.

She said: "Words cannot truly express the massive impact this has had on my life and the lives of my loved ones. I am left devastated by the attack and I do not recognise myself anymore.

"At times I do not even like the person I have become. I feel guilty about the upset this has caused my extended family, even though I have done nothing wrong. I was merely going for my regular walk on what appeared to be an ordinary day.

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"Little did I know it would turn out to be the worst day of my life."

"I have recurring nightmares which disturb my sleep. I wake up to find myself sweating.

"This can happen at any time of the night. I now only have a few hours of sleep each night."

"Sometimes I think that it would have been better if he had killed me, then I would not be burdening everyone with how I feel.

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"The attack has turned my life into chaos, and I don’t know how to overcome this. Although I do have some support I still feel very alone.

"It is fair to say that I may in time learn to cope better, but I will never overcome what has happened and I will never be the same person again."