A WOMAN was dragged off the street by a deranged sex attacker while she was on the phone to a 999 operator, pleading for help.
Police raced to Myton Bridge after the 23-year-old student was heard screaming down the phone as Latvian Rolands Brize, 25, pounced on her from behind.
They discovered her high-heel shoes and handbag strewn across Castle Street and followed the trail to find Brize attacking the woman on a footpath underneath the bridge.
Brize, who spent years in a mental institution in Latvia before he was released and arrived in Hull, is now awaiting sentence after admitting attempted rape.
Detective Inspector Al Bentham of the Public Protection Unit paid tribute to the victim for keeping calm enough to give police enough details, despite the threat of attack from Brize.
DI Bentham said: "Great credit must be attributed to the young lady involved as she courageously provided the police with sufficient details to be able to quickly locate her in horrendous circumstances.
"Fortunately, this type of incident is extremely rare within the city of Hull."
He also praised the 999 operator and the police officers who raced to the scene to save the woman.
"I am proud of the police call-taker and response team officers who worked together quickly, efficiently, and with great professionalism to enable the apprehension of the suspect."
Hull Crown Court heard Brize had spent time in a mental health institute in Latvia after burning down his family home. He came to England but re-entered the institute when he went back to Latvia. On his release, he returned and settled in Hull.
The woman had been to Sugar Mill nightclub and was walking home when she was followed by Brize, who had been refused entry to the club.
CCTV captured the woman walking along Castle Street towards east Hull, carrying her high-heeled shoes in one hand and her handbag in another. Brize grabbed her from behind and she screamed before managing to shake him off to call police on 999 from her mobile.
She was hysterical and the police 999 operator managed to calm her down enough for her to explain that a man was following her and had just tried to grab her as she walked over Myton Bridge.
But as she made the desperate call to police for help, Brize grabbed her again.
He pulled her on to a footpath by the bridge over the River Hull and attacked her.
The 999 operator, forced to listen to the woman's screams, alerted police officers on the ground and they raced to Myton Bridge.
But once they arrived on the bridge, the woman was nowhere to be seen.
All they found was her high-heel shoes and handbag, strewn across the pavement.
They followed the trail to search the area near the bridge and found the woman.
They pulled Brize off the woman and took him into custody, while the woman was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary for treatment to cuts and bruises on her legs and back.
Once he was arrested, Brize admitted his guilt to police officers and he's been in custody ever since the attack. Brize, of no fixed address, has pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to attempting to rape the woman on March 9.
Sentence has been deferred for psychiatric reports.
The honorary recorder of Hull and the East Riding Judge Michael Mettyear said: "I have no problem adjourning the case for a psychiatric report. He seems perfectly able to admit what he has done.
"In a case like this, an early plea is very important."
Brize will return to court for sentencing next month.
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