A TOOTHILL man has been jailed for 11 years after he was found guilty of molesting a woman and ABH. 

Edward Booth confronted his victim, who was known to him, at her Swindon flat in March.

He pushed her, punched her in the face, sexually assaulted her, dragged her across the floor by her hair and scraped her arms and face with shards of glass from a shattered lamp. 

Booth threatened to rape his victim and her mother, also suggesting he would "body" - or kill - her boyfriend.

He had pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of sexual assault.

But a Swindon jury found him guilty on all counts after a four day trial. He was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment. 

Reacting to the sentence, Det Con Jason Walsh of Wiltshire Police said: “Booth is a prolific and dangerous offender who has failed to cooperate with police on numerous occasions and continuously denied any involvement, pleading not guilty to the offences and therefore putting his victim through a trial process which would have been distressing and upsetting having to relive the ordeal he put her through in a court room.

“This investigation has been a long and complex case but our priority throughout has been securing justice for the vulnerable victim who has been abused both physically and sexually over a number of years.

“I am pleased that a jury has found Booth guilty of these despicable crimes and that the judge has recognised he is a danger to women and he will now serve a lengthy prison sentence.

“I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the victim in this case – despite feeling terrified and threatened of Booth over many years, her bravery and courage enabled us to put this man before the courts.

“I’d like to reassure anyone who may find themselves in a similar position but is concerned about contacting police, that you will be provided with support throughout the court process and beyond.”