Wanted man from Crawley jailed after more than 30 years on the run
A warrant was issued for his arrest after he choked a woman and threatened to kill her in 1990
A man from Crawley who escaped justice for more than 30 years has been jailed following a new line of police enquiry.
Joseph Watts assaulted a woman he knew, choked the victim in her bed and threatened to kill her after a night of drinking together in January 1990.
The victim, who was left with neck injuries and post-traumatic stress, reported it to police which led to Watt’s arrest.
Then aged 44, he was charged and given bail conditions to attend court but failed to show up.
A warrant was issued for Watts' arrest; however, he had disappeared from Sussex for decades, living under false names and aliases.
Years later, an officer from Sussex Police’s Specialist Enforcement Unit opened a new line of enquiry after reviewing a list of outstanding warrants.
Watts was then located at an address in Cam, Gloucestershire, in June this year.
The now 76-year-old, formerly of Banks Road, Crawley, and most recently of Frederick Tomas Road, Cam, Gloucestershire, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm.
He admitted to the charge and was sentenced to more than four years in prison.
Lauren Mann, who investigated the case, said: “This was a complex case to bring together, locating witnesses and obtaining new evidence, with the support of the victim.
“Working with the CPS, we were able to bring the case back to court, and Watts had no choice but to plead guilty.
“It was a frightening ordeal for her, so we are pleased that at long last she has been able to get justice.
“The case demonstrates that officers continue to pursue new lines of enquiry that come to us, to ensure dangerous offenders are brought to justice.”