A crossdresser has been jailed for 15 months for two unprovoked late-night attacks on women.

Transvestite, James Hicks, stalked his victims along a picturesque riverside pathway before launching the vicious attacks. He was only caught when he confessed in shame to his girlfriend after reading press reports of the assaults.

The attacks, not sexual in nature, occurred within an hour of each other last November as the women were walking by the Itchen Navigation, in Winchester.

Hicks grabbed a 20-year-old around the mouth and forced her to the ground after picking her out as a victim just seconds before when he ran past her.

He then slammed the girl's head against the ground, only releasing his hold when two passers-by spotted the pair struggling. One recalled how, when they had shouted at him, he hadn't even run off, but just "sloped off into the dark".

While police were attending that scene, more screams were heard less than 100 yards away. This time Hicks (23) had picked on a 15-year-old schoolgirl who had just been dropped off by her mother in College Walk.

She told officers she noticed him looking at her and when she caught his eye he immediately crossed the road, grabbed her by the arms and started trying to kick her legs from under her.

The girl fought back though and eventually Hicks, of St Cross Road, St Cross, Winchester, gave up and fled, via the Watermeadows.

Hicks, Winchester Crown Court heard, was bisexual and enjoyed dressing up and going out in women's clothes. When he saw press reports about the attacks, he confessed to his girlfriend, who called the police.

Hicks, who admitted one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of common assault, said he had committed the offence because he was very drunk.

Judge John Dixon told Hicks: "These two attacks are described as worrying and frightening assaults and they represent behaviour to my mind that is cause for real concern.

"I'm not sure you understand even now the frightening effect on this young woman your actions have had, but what is worse is that within minutes you were stalking another girl.

"The real damage to both of these victims is the emotional and psychological harm you have inflicted."

Sentencing him to 15 months for the actual bodily harm and six months for the common assault, to run concurrently, the judge added: "People, especially the women of Winchester, need to know that if you get drunk and behave in this way, that this behaviour will be punished, and prison is the necessary consequence."

Speaking later, DC Steve Deeprose, said: "This was a vicious and strange attack because it was so unprovoked and, as such, is very rare."

The 20-year-old victim added: "It all happened so quickly. I was still at the scene when we heard his second victim. I hate the idea of him doing this again, and so though I don't really know if 15 months is an appropriate sentence. I just hope he's never able to attack someone else."