'At times survival feels like my only goal' - victim speaks out as Godalming man sentenced for false imprisonment
66-year-old Stephen Oyston's been handed a suspended sentence for the ordeal in 2023
A man from Godalming has been sentenced for false imprisonment, as the survivor works to rebuild her life.
In January 2023, Surrey Police began an investigation into a report that 66-year-old Stephen Oyston prevented the survivor from leaving a property, confiscating her keys and electronic devices.
Oyston physically barred the survivor from going out and threatened to falsely accuse her of being aggressive if she contacted the police.
Although her car keys were returned, the survivor discovered her vehicle's tyres had been deliberately deflated, leaving her trapped at the property.
Captured on internal CCTV, the incident extended through the night and into the next day.
Stephen Oyston was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on 19th June.
He received a nine-month suspended sentence, ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, attend 12 mental health treatment sessions, and given a five-year restraining order.
The survivor recounted her ordeal, expressing the lasting effects of the event: "Before I met him, I was a confident, sociable, ambitious and outgoing person... I often take each day as it comes, and at times survival feels like my only goal... The impact of what I experienced extends far beyond the incident itself. I feel that much of the person I once was has been lost."
PC Nina Hume, the investigating officer, commented, "This was a serious incident of false imprisonment which left the survivor feeling trapped... Behaviour of this nature can have a profound impact on victims... I would like to commend the survivor for her courage in supporting this investigation..."