Deaf-mute jailed for sex attacks in China

A Chinese deaf and mute man has been jailed for attempting to rape young women who tried to help him as he pretended being a Japanese student who had lost his way on college campus.

Xie Lin, an unemployed 19-year-old, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted rape, Shanghai Daily reported.

The Huangpu district people's court awarded him the sentence Tuesday.

Xie, a Sichuan province native, came to Shanghai in February. He wandered around Donghua University campus at night. On spotting a target, he would use the excuse of asking for directions to lure them into quiet areas.

On May 12, Xie spotted his first victim and showed her a paper stating he was a Japanese student who was searching for a print shop. As the woman led him to the shop, Xie started kissing and touching her.

He dragged her onto a lawn and tried to rape her. But the woman fought back and escaped, the court said.

Nine days later, Xie returned to the university on Yan'an Road and tried repeating the same thing. But this time the woman bit his shoulder and escaped. However, he was nabbed by students who rushed to the scene.