Locations
Leigh Road, Eastleigh, SO50
Description
A man has been jailed for more than 13 years after kidnapping and threatening to kill a 19-year-old woman in a park.
Jeremy Blake Simmons, 20, attacked a woman at about 2.15am on August 4, 2020 as she walked along Leigh Road in Eastleigh.
Simmons told his victim he had a gun, before he began punching and kicking her to stop her from screaming.
He then dragged her into the recreation ground which is alongside the road.
Prosecution barrister, Christopher Wing, said how the woman was left feeling anxious, depressed and suffering nightmares following the attack.
The court heard Simmons, of no fixed address, said he had been trying to rob the woman, who was completely oblivious to his presence.
Before the attack started, the victim was able to call 999 meaning the whole ordeal was heard over the phone.
A CCTV operator alerted the police, who subsequently rescued the "distraught" victim.
Simmons previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing actual bodily harm, one count of threats to kill and one count of kidnap at Southampton Crown Court on September 9, 2020.
Following a three-day trial at Southampton Crown Court, on Wednesday, March 10, Simmons was also found guilty of kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence.
He also pleaded guilty to a separate incident of robbery and four counts of fraud, in which Simmons stole a handbag from a woman who had been separated from her friends in East Park, Southampton.
Defending, Elisabeth Bussey-Jones said her client's life had spiralled out of control following the death of his mother in 2019.
She argued he had been subject to severe abuse and neglect as a child.
However, Judge Christopher Park QC branded him a danger to the public and gave him an extended sentence following the two attacks.
He was jailed for a total of 13 years and four months at Southampton Crown Court on Wednesday (May 12).
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Sean Owens from Hampshire Constabulary’s Amberstone team, said: “This was a truly harrowing and unprovoked attack on a vulnerable woman late at night.
"At a time where she should feel safe walking home within her local community, she was subjected to a serious assault.
"I would like to commend the victim for her courage that she has shown throughout the whole investigation.
"This was no doubt an awful ordeal which she was faced to re-live; but we must praise her for doing so, as it is not always easy to do so.
"I would also like to say thank you to the CCTV operator who alerted police to the attack – undoubtedly their quick thinking ensured that the victim was not subjected to a more severe and violent attack."