A man from South London has been sentenced to a total of 43 months behind bars for a violent assault in which he strangled and beat a woman.
Violent attack in Colchester
Daniel Baptiste, 46, of Mendip Close in Sydenham, attacked the woman, who is in her 40s, in Colchester, Essex, in July last year. The court heard how he grabbed her by the neck and lifted her off the ground, stopping her from breathing.
The victim managed to contact police immediately after the terrifying ordeal. In the weeks that followed, she was supported to give a full statement, during which she also revealed further details about Baptiste's pattern of behaviour.
Arrest, guilty plea and sentencing
Baptiste was arrested upon returning to the UK and later charged. He pleaded guilty to non-fatal strangulation and assault by beating at Ipswich Crown Court.
On Wednesday, December 17, he was sentenced to 25 months in prison for these crimes. Furthermore, a previously suspended sentence for an unrelated matter was activated, adding a consecutive 18-month term. This brought his total sentence to 43 months.
The court also granted a restraining order to protect the victim for seven years.
Victim's hope: 'I have saved many other women'
Speaking after the sentencing, the victim paid tribute to the officers from Essex Police and the Crown Prosecution Service who worked on her case, specifically naming Jade Gwillim, Jade Lawton, and Lauren Birch.
"Without them believing in me and helping me to open my eyes to the abuse I suffered I know that I wouldn’t be here today," she said. "I hope that by me speaking the truth and the defendant being brought to justice that I have saved many other women."
Detective Jade Gwillim responded by praising the victim's courage: "The strength of this woman and her support of our investigation is what made this result possible. We are all pleased to see Baptiste given a lengthy sentence for his crimes."
She added that the case exemplifies the ongoing work to reduce violence against women and girls in Essex.
