A man just released from prison attacked a woman with a screwdriver and tried to rape her after she agreed to help him get gas for his car, police said.

The woman met the Oregon City man at a tavern and he said he was running low on gas. So she agreed to lead him to the closest gas station around 2 a.m. Saturday.

But James Worley pulled over just north of Gaston on Highway 47, police said, and pretended to be out of gas.

Police said Worley was trying to lure her into a trap and when she reached his car, he attacked her with a screwdriver and threatened to kill her.

“The victim fought back and was able to escape from the car. Mr. Worley caught her and dragged her back to the car where he continued to assault her. At one point James Worley attempted to drag the victim into the bushes but she struggled with him and he was not able to overpower her,” Sgt. David Thompson with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said.

Worley finally gave up and fled in his car, police said, but the woman was able to memorize his license plates. She flagged down two off-duty officers and told them everything.

Turns out, Worley had recently been paroled from prison for a kidnapping and attempted robbery in Clackamas County in 1999. Police were able to quickly track him down to an address in Oregon City where he was arrested.

He was booked on charges including attempted rape, kidnapping, assault and strangulation. Bail at the Washington County Jail was set at $250,000.

Meantime, the woman was transported to an area hospital, where she was helped by the special rape unit.