A quick-thinking passer-by has been honoured for alerting police to the plight of a woman who was attacked and raped in Workington.

Drug-crazed Jack Ian Walker, 18, subjected his victim to appalling violence as she walked her dog on the night of July 15.

The woman, aged in her 50s, was hit so hard she was left with a five-inch-long facial scar.

Walker had taken a cocktail of cocaine, Valium and alcohol, and threatened to stab the woman to death.

He later admitted rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and causing his victim grievous bodily harm, and was jailed for 11 years in October.

During a crown court award ceremony, it was suggested the woman could have been killed had it not been for the prompt action of eyewitness David Griffiths.

Mr Griffiths, 31, of Siddick, saw what he thought was a “disturbance” between Walker and the woman.

He said: “I ran as quick as possible to get the police there as quick as possible,” he said after receiving his commendation from Cumbria’s High Sheriff.

“I do wish that more people would stand up and help. At the time I wish I had done a lot more.”

Judge Peter Davies, who had jailed Walker, told Mr Griffiths: “You didn’t just stop and walk away. You saw a police car, informed police officers what you saw and you were responsible to do so.

“If you hadn’t have identified that serious situation, if you hadn’t described that offender, I am quite convinced that lady would have died.

“Your instincts told you to help and you acted responsibly.”