Jogger attacker identified by facial recognition

The female runner was jogging near the outdoor gym towards the city centre when Daniel grabbed her

A man who assaulted a female jogger in a park in January has been sentenced to a community order.

Philip Daniel, 32, from Barry grabbed the woman in Bute Park, Cardiff as she was running on 31 January at 11:40 BST.

She was able to push him away, but managed to take a photograph of him which helped police identify him with facial recognition technology.

Daniel pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court and on 13 March he was sentenced to a community order.

He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation, £80 fine and £114 surcharge.

South Wales Police said that "tackling violence and abuse against women and girls is a longstanding priority" and it recognises that "concern regarding personal safety and violence is as great as it has ever been".

It added that as well as high-visibility and plain-clothed patrols, it is involved in a wide range of initiatives to tackle violence and abuse, and will "use all available technology such as retrospective facial recognition, to bring offenders to justice".

South Wales Police refused to issue a photograph of Daniel.