Bristol man jailed for eight years after attacking a woman in her home
Curtis Wilson was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court yesterday.
A man has been jailed after breaking into a woman's home in the middle of the night and attacking her.
31-year-old Curtis Wilson pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court to intentional strangulation, assault by causing actual bodily harm and arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.
Previously, Wilson pleaded not guilty at his initial hearing on the 20th of April, but changed his plea to guilty on the first day of the three-day trial on Monday the 14th of September.
After being remanded into custody, he appeared before the court again yesterday (Thursday 12th of November) where he was sentenced to eight years in prison, plus a further three years on extended licence.
Wilson also had a 15-year restraining order granted against him, ordering him not to contact or speak to the victim.
The court was told how, in the early hours of Saturday 7th of February this year, Wilson entered the home of his female victim in Montpelier area of Bristol. He had previously been in a short relationship with her.
Once inside the property, Wilson attacked the victim in her bedroom while she was asleep. He started to strangle her and then assaulted her. She was left with a number of injuries including bruising to her neck, hair pulled out and bite marks and further bruising on her face.
During the attack, he also set fire to the woman's bed and then left before police arrived.
In a statement read out at the sentencing, the victim said: “I struggle to sleep almost every night, with flashbacks keeping me awake… I don’t feel like myself anymore. The things I used to enjoy doing, I no longer enjoy."
“I have had to try to fix my life on my own. I have lost friends and family because I have changed so much as a result of the impact this has had on my life. It has changed me as a person.”
A manhunt for Wilson was launched by police. He was then arrested by officers on the 14th of March. He had been discovered hiding in the rear of a car which police had stopped.
His Honour Judge Euan Ambrose said Wilson’s remorse ‘arrived late in the day’ and said he was ‘extremely violent’ and a ‘significant risk to members of the public’.
Officer in the case, DC Mike Tarling, said: “Curtis Wilson carried out a terrifying attack on a woman in what should have been the safety of her own home. He subjected her to significant violence and then recklessly attempted to start fires, putting her life at even greater risk."
“I would like to commend the victim for the courage and resilience she has shown throughout this investigation and court process."
“Thanks to the efforts of officers to locate and arrest Wilson, and the strength of the evidence gathered, he has now been brought to justice and faces sentencing for his actions."
“Domestic abuse and violence against women and girls remain one of our key priorities. We hope this outcome provides the victim with some reassurance as she continues her recovery.”