A Bexhill man who subjected a woman to domestic abuse and coercive control has been jailed.
Jimmy Wright, 24, previously of Cantelupe Road, Bexhill, was in a relationship with his victim, a woman in her 20s, for three years. During this time, he isolated her from her friends and family, exerted control over her life, and physically assaulted her on multiple occasions, including strangling her until she stopped breathing.
At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on November 5, 2024, Wright pleaded not guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour, non-fatal strangulation, and two charges of assault. However, he was found guilty of all four offences and was referred to Lewes Crown Court for sentencing.
On January 27, he was sentenced to two years in prison and issued a 10-year restraining order.
During sentencing, Judge Mooney condemned Wright’s actions, stating: “I have no idea why you behaved this way. You were violent, bullying, and held her by the throat. You took it a step further and strangled her, restricting breathing, which is the most dreadful thing to do. She had the courage to report it to the police. You had two choices: to either accept responsibility for what you have done or deny everything. You chose the latter, forcing the complainant to go to court.”
Following the verdict, Detective Constable Rebecca Dixon praised the victim’s bravery in supporting the investigation, emphasizing: “We take all reports of domestic abuse seriously and encourage victims to talk to us.”
Anyone experiencing domestic abuse is urged to seek support from the police or domestic abuse charities.
