Littlehampton abuser jailed after Brighton assault

Christopher Holland subjected his victim – a woman in her 40s – to what she described as a “vicious, prolonged assault” over more than 90 minutes.

Police were called to a property in Brighton in the early hours of Saturday, November 26, 2022, after neighbours reported a woman screaming for help.

Officers forced their way into the property as Holland jumped from a second storey window and fled the scene.

Holland, 34, was charged with intentional strangulation, causing actual bodily harm (ABH) and engaging in coercive/controlling behaviour after the incident.

He was later charged with sexual assault by penetration after his victim reported a separate incident during the investigation.

She was safeguarded and a manhunt was launched to locate Holland, who was arrested and remanded in custody on November 28, 2022.

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Holland, of Mill Lane, Littlehampton, pleaded guilty to the first three offences at Hove Crown Court on February 9, 2023.

Christopher Holland has been jailed for 15 years (Image: Sussex Police)

While awaiting sentencing, he was also charged with sexual assault by penetration, of which he was found guilty by a jury at Lewes Crown Court on November 8, 2023.

At the same court on Friday, January 5 2024, Holland was sentenced to 15 years in prison and given an indefinite restraining order against his victim.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Holland’s victim described the impact of his abuse.

She said: “In the immediate aftermath, I was too scared to be in my house alone. Even though I knew that Chris was in prison, I kept thinking he was coming through the door for me. If I heard his ringtone or saw a red car that looked like his, panic would set in, and I would get anxious.

"Following the attack, my self-confidence was gone. During the assault, Chris pulled out so much of my hair that I was basically bald on the lower half of my head.

"My hair was pulled out so viciously that the hospital said it was gone at the root and would take a long time to grow back as a result. My head was swollen and painful.”

Detective Constable Jess Gwynn said the type of violence carried out by Holland "devastates lives, from the physical impacts of assaults to the long-lasting, psychological trauma that victims carry with them once they are free of their abuser".

He added: “Christopher Holland very quickly tried to control every aspect of his victim’s life, reaching a head with an appalling, prolonged attack that could have had tragic consequences if not for the quick-thinking of neighbours to call the police.

“Thanks to them, and the bravery of this young woman to support the investigation through to prosecution, a dangerous individual is now behind bars."

Det Con Gwynn urged people who knew of anyone suffering such abuse to contact police online or via 101. "Always dial 999 in an emergency," she said.

"Please know the help is out there," Det Con Gwynn added.