A 46-year-old man from Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, has been jailed for 21 years and six months after subjecting a woman to nearly 10 hours of torture, including sexual assault, false imprisonment, grievous bodily harm, and threats to kill.
Tommy Hitt, of Springhead, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, 13 June, following guilty pleas to a string of disturbing domestic abuse offences that left his victim with permanent physical and emotional damage.
The Ordeal
On 21 February 2025, Hitt detained the victim at his property, destroyed her mobile phone, and repeatedly assaulted her over the course of nine and a half hours. He inflicted:
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A fractured eye socket
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Permanent damage to her retinas
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Tooth loss
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Bruising and swelling
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A shaved head, done forcibly as an act of humiliation
He also sexually assaulted her twice and threatened to kill her, even forcing her to call her mother to say goodbye. The victim bravely managed to escape the moving vehicle during a later drive, prompting a 999 call and police intervention.
Charges and Convictions
Hitt pleaded guilty to the following:
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Intentional strangulation
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False imprisonment
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Grievous bodily harm with intent (Section 18)
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Two counts of assault by penetration
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Two counts of ABH
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Threats to kill
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Criminal damage under £5,000
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Possession of Class B drugs
He was also handed a restraining order and ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.
Victim’s Statement
The survivor shared a harrowing statement:
"He beat me up for about 9 and a half hours. If I hadn’t managed to get away, he would have killed me.
I keep hearing those words—‘say goodbye to your mum’—because he said he was going to kill me."
She added:
"He is now in prison where he belongs and can’t do this to anybody else."
Police Statement and Support
Detective Constable James Gatherum, from Wiltshire Police CID, praised the victim’s extraordinary bravery:
"She was subject to unimaginable cruelty, and her courage in escaping, reporting, and facing this trial has been remarkable.
If you are experiencing abuse, know that we will listen and support you."
This case was reported with the victim’s full consent.
Help Is Available
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, contact:
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Wiltshire Police: Domestic Abuse Advice Page
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FearFree Wiltshire
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Swindon Paragon IDAS
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Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service
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In an emergency: Dial 999.
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