Didcot man sentenced to prison for assault and threats to kill
It follows an Oxford Crown Court trial
Last updated 22nd Jan 2025
A man has been jailed for a string of offences, including assault and making threats to kill.
Rio Samson, aged 22, of Aston Upthorpe, Didcot, was found guilty by a majority jury verdict, following a trial at Oxford Crown Court, which concluded on 2nd December 2024.
Returning to court on Monday (January 20th), Samson was sentenced to a total of three years and eight months’ imprisonment.
The sentence included the activation of a previous suspended sentence of 20 months’ imprisonment for an earlier unrelated domestic abuse case.
Overnight on 12th to 13th April last year, the victim, a woman aged in her late teens, was subjected to sustained verbal and physical abuse.
Samson physically assaulted the victim multiple times, burned her personal belongings, threatened to kill her with a knife and caused substantial damage to a mobile phone, amounting to around £800.
Samson was arrested and was charged the following day.
He had already been subjected to a suspended sentence for a previous offence of domestic abuse.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Alexandra Slyfield, of the Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Rio Samson is a violent individual, who subjected his victim in this case to a string of awful offences.
“I am very proud of the effort and resilience that the victim showed throughout this investigation and subsequent trial.
“Samson has a history of domestic violence, as the activation of his previous suspended sentence clearly implies.
“I hope the fact that Samson will now serve a substantial prison sentence will serve as some comfort, not only for this victim, but also his previous victim.
“Thames Valley Police is relentless in its pursuit and disruption of perpetrators of violence against women and girls.
“For victims of domestic abuse, coming forward and reporting it is incredibly difficult, but we urge anybody who has been subjected to these terrible crimes to please speak up.
“We will believe you and support you throughout the process.
“Thames Valley Police is relentless in its pursuit and disruption of perpetrators of violence against women and girls.
“For victims of domestic abuse, coming forward and reporting it is incredibly hard, but we urge anyone who has been subjected to these terrible crimes, to speak up. We will believe you and support you throughout the process."