Salesman denies attacks on women

The car salesman denies all charges against him

A car salesman launched a spate of random attacks after stalking lone women in Hastings over a period of two years, a jury has heard.

Adam Gall, 27, of Pilgrim's Way, Hastings, denies 14 counts, including sexual assault, wounding with intent and assault by beating.

The prosecution said he inflicted harm on more than 10 women and girls aged from 15 to 50-plus before being caught.

The trial at Lewes Crown Court is continuing.

Prosecutor Christine Laing QC said the level of violence escalated to the extent where a bottle was used on one occasion and a metal bar on another later on in the series.

'Sudden and shocking'

The jury was told that the victims were left with injuries ranging from bruising, concussion and broken bones, and that most of them remain traumatised by their ordeals.

In her opening speech, Ms Laing said: "We say this was a series of offences where this defendant terrorised lone women and inflicted violence upon them.

"The Crown say that this defendant is a serial offender for whom the stalking of women utterly unknown to him in order to both terrify them and to attack them became a way of life."

All of the offences took place within a small area of the resort. Ms Laing went on: "All of the offences, bar one, were in suburban streets.

"They were sudden, shocking attacks which for the victims came completely out of the blue. There is no overt motive for the attacks."

She said that "putting fear and inflicting damage" upon the victims was what Gall wanted to achieve.