Man jailed after seriously assaulting woman in Saffron Walden hotel
A jury found Danny Chandler guilty of seriously assaulting and falsely imprisoning her
You will be listened to and you will be supported.
That’s the message from Essex officers, after a jury found a man guilty of seriously assaulting and falsely imprisoning a woman at a hotel in Saffron Walden.
The victim and Danny Chandler, 46, of Whittlesey Road in March, were staying in the town on the night from 31 March to 1 April 2023 when he attacked her several times, leaving her with injuries to her head, face, stomach and leg.
When she tried to contact the police for help using the SOS button, Chandler took the phone from her. When she tried to leave the room, he dragged her back and assaulted her again.
The SOS briefly connected to our emergency response handler. Officers were able to locate the abandoned call and quickly deployed to the hotel and arrested Chandler.
He was charged with one count of false imprisonment, one count of causing actual bodily harm, one count of intentional strangulation and one count of possession of a Class A drug, but pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday 3 September.
After a three-day trial, the jury found him guilty of the offence on Friday 5 September, and he will now be sentenced at the same court at a later date.
‘Rebuilding our lives’
The victim in this case said: "I would like to sincerely thank officer in charge of my case, Detective Stolarska, and the officers who located me on the night of the incident, as well as my dedicated Independent Domestic violence Advisor (IDVA), who has provided continuous support over the past two-and-a-half years.
"Following this conviction, my family and I can begin to rebuild our lives.
"To anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or friends and family concerned for a loved one, please know you do not need to suffer in silence — help is available.
"Reaching out can make a real difference. I encourage you to seek support from Essex Compass."
‘Incredible dignity’
Speaking after the conviction, Detective Constable Barbara Stolarska said: "The victim at the centre of this case did a brave and difficult thing in supporting our investigation.
"I know how hard it can be to have to give evidence after a traumatic assault like this, and she has conducted herself with incredible dignity throughout this case.
"Chandler tried to deny the harm he caused from the moment of his arrest, but the case we built showed the jury the truth and I am glad they concluded he was guilty.
"I would ask anyone who finds themselves in the same situation as the victim in this case to trust us to help you - you will be listened to and you will be supported. "
Victims' code
Essex Police says it puts victims at the heart of everything they do. The Victims’ Code explains the rights that everyone can expect to receive as a victim of crime and helps define what they must do for all victims from their initial contact with the force, until the conclusion of their case.
Find out more about the code and to understand the rights of a victim of crime, on the support for victims and witnesses of crime page.
To report a crime, please use the digital 101 service
In an emergency call 999.