A sex attacker tried to con police with a letter supposedly from one of his victims - but was busted when his prison stamped the envelope.
Repeat offender Anthony Kirkbright penned a note to police claiming to be one of two women he had assaulted.
It declared the 54-year-old was innocent but, after being marked by HMP Altcourse, officers quickly traced who had actually sent it.
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Kirkbright has been sentenced to four years in jail for sexually assaulting two vulnerable women.
He attacked one woman after being invited to the victim’s home last summer, continuing despite her pleas to stop.
Detailing what happened next, a spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “After Kirkbright was arrested, charged and remanded into custody for that offence, a letter was sent to Greenbank Police Station purporting to be from the victim and claiming the defendant was innocent.
“The letter was stamped with an HMP Altcourse postage stamp – the prison where Kirkbright was remanded.”
Kirkbright, of no fixed address and whose offences were committed in Blackburn and Accrington, was also prosecuted after he was seen harassing and sexually assaulting a pensioner at a bus station in 2020.
He pleaded guilty to two sexual assaults, attempting to pervert the course of justice and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that was already in place to prevent him from harassing women.
He had previously been ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Following his sentencing, Detective Constable Tom Dawson said: “I am pleased with the sentence and that the courts have imposed orders which will restrict Kirkbright’s association with women when he is released from custody.
“Like the judge in this case, I believe Kirkbright is a danger to women and I am pleased the public now have some respite from his grotesque behaviour.
“A lot of work went into securing these convictions and I would like to praise all the staff and our colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service, for their efforts.
“I hope this case and it’s outcome will encourage other victims of sexual abuse to come forward. They can do so knowing they will be listened to, believed and that Lancashire Police will do everything in our power to keep them safe and bring the perpetrator to justice.”
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