Convicted sex attacker sent back to prison for breaching order banning him from entering Leeds student areas

Azrael Bell was banned from the Woodhouse, Headingley and Hyde Park areas of the city in 2018 after being convicted of carrying out frightening sex attacks on two female students.Bell was subsequently jailed in 2019 after he was seen looking through the windows of house on Victoria Road, Headingley.Leeds Crown Court heard Bell breached the order again on February 12 this year after he was stopped by police officers on Brudenell Street, Hyde Park.

Emma Handley, prosecuting, said officers became aware of two women looking nervous as Bell walked close to them.

Bell, of no fixed address, tried to walk away when he was approached by the officers.

The defendant gave them a false name, claiming to be called Johnny Wilkinson. He told officers he was from Liverpool.

Bell was allowed to go but was arrested in Woodhouse a short time later after police were called to investigate another incident.

The 26-year-old claimed he had been in the area begging when he was taken into custody.

Bell, formerly of Aberdeen Drive, Armely, pleaded guilty to breach of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and obstructing an officer in the execution of his duty.

Richard Reed, mitigating, said Bell was sorry for breaching the order for a second time.

Mr Reed said his client had been out begging and had "strayed" into the exclusion zone

The barrister said Bell suffers from dyslexia and has mental health difficulties.

Judge Neil Clark jailed Bell for ten months,

At his sentencing hearing three years ago, the court heard Bell targeted his first victim, who was 17, at a bus stop near the city’s Northern Ballet in April 2017.

In a second assault five months later on Woodhouse Lane, Bell jumped from behind a bus stop and grabbed a 21-year-old student.

The victim thought she would be raped during the attack.

Bell told her: “I’m not leaving until I get what I want from you.”

The woman, who was on the phone to her boyfriend, managed to run towards a passing taxi and was helped inside.

Bell was then handed a 12 months sentence in 2019 after he breached his SHPO when police spotted him in Headingley.