Detective welcomes doubling of sentence for violent offender
A detective has today welcomed the increase in the sentence given to a man who was convicted of violently assaulting a woman on numerous occasions over a period of six months.
The last incident happened whilst Aaron Luke Chapman, now 22, was already on bail - with conditions to stay away from the victim. He took her to a hotel and repeatedly assaulted her and bit the end of her nose off.
A previous attack ended when the woman climbed out of a window of her flat, bare foot and ran down the street in fear, only to be caught by Chapman and brought back to the flat.
A neighbour rang police on this occasion as he feared for the woman’s safety and when police arrived, Chapman assaulted two officers by head butting, kneeing and kicking them.
On sentencing in April this year, he received a sentence of 60 months however when this case went to appeal last week, it was quashed - and he was given an increased sentence of 11 years (a minimum of 8 in prison, then 3 on licence). Chapman also received 12 months in prison for assaulting for assaulting the two police officers.
Detective Constable Richie Pulman of Cleveland Police’s Complex Exploitation Team said: “I welcome the increase in Chapman’s sentence which means, after looking at the full picture of the torment this poor woman went through, it has more than doubled.
“Chapman showed no remorse at all; pleading not guilty on his first court appearance and in interview he stated that the victim had inflicted these injuries on herself and that HE was the actual victim, which is disgraceful.
“Following the assault, he left the woman bleeding in the hotel room and ran out of the hotel via the fire escape, to evade capture.
“This revised sentence reinforces the message from police and the courts that those who abuse and assault someone they are in a relationship with will face the consequences of their actions.
The Judge also wanted to send a public message that assaulting emergency workers will not be tolerated, and she therefore gave Chapman 6 months in prison for the assault on each Police Officer. The Judge also stated that Chapman had no regard for authority as he had broken his bail conditions on more than one occasion.
DC Pulman; “I echo the comments from the Judge Lady Justice Macur that violence between intimate partners is completely unacceptable, as is violence against emergency services workers. She said that Chapman’s actions were dangerous and that he had used his teeth as a weapon to inflict severe, lifelong injuries on the woman.”
DC Pulman added that help for anyone experiencing domestic abuse in any form is always available from Cleveland Police via the 101 number or from specialist local and national DA organisations and charities. Always use 999 in an emergency.
Do you have information about criminal activity in your area? If so, call us on 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.