A man has been sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison for a terrifying attack on a woman in Bute Park, Cardiff.

Dale Edey, 38, targeted the woman as she walked through the park at around 6.30am on August 31, 2022. He pretended to be looking for a lost dog, but then grabbed her, kissed her neck, and tried to drag her towards an isolated area.

The victim, who had been on a morning stroll and speaking to her mother on the phone, was able to fight back and scream for help. Edey responded by threatening to kill her if she didn't stop screaming.

The woman eventually managed to escape Edey's grasp and made her way to the park entrance, where she was helped by another man who called the police. DNA evidence found on the victim's clothes matched Edey's profile, and he was arrested on September 19.

Edey initially denied the offences but later pleaded guilty to sexual assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and committing an offence with the intention of committing a relevant sexual offence.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the woman described the profound impact the attack had on her. She said she had been suffering from anxiety, nightmares, and sleep disturbances. She also said she was now uneasy about being out in public and could no longer interact with strangers.

The judge, Recorder of Cardiff Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, sentenced Edey in his absence after he refused to leave his cell for the second day in a row. She said Edey had caused "severe psychological harm" and used violence against his victim.

In addition to the prison sentence, Edey was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements.