Man sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder in Weston-super-Mare
James Stock was convicted over an attack in July last year
A man from Clevedon has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars for the attempted murder of a woman he was in a relationship with.
James Stock was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court today for the attempted murder of Caroline Goddard, after being found guilty in April.
Caroline called 999 early on 27th July 2025, reporting that Stock was trying to kill her at a home in Kewstoke, Weston-super-Mare.
The attack, involving repeated attempts to strangle her, lasted for 45 minutes and continued while she was speaking to a police call-handler.
Officers arrived to find Caroline unresponsive, and she was taken to hospital with multiple injuries including a fractured nose.
In a victim impact statement, Caroline detailed the lasting effects on her mental and physical health, expressing fear of Stock’s potential release and ongoing struggles with anxiety and sleep.
Stock, 40, was charged with intentional strangulation and attempted murder, pleading guilty to the former but denying the latter, which he was ultimately convicted of.
He also admitted to a separate assault on Caroline a month before.
Court case and police response
DC Olivia Stewart, the officer on the case, described the attack as “brutal and sustained,” highlighting the danger Stock posed.
She praised Caroline for her courage in reporting the attack and aiding the investigation.
“Caroline has agreed to share her story to encourage other victims of domestic abuse to come forward,” DC Stewart said.