Christopher Holland, 34, of Mill Lane, was charged with intentional strangulation, causing actual bodily harm (ABH) and engaging in coercive/controlling behaviour following a vicious attack in November, 2022.
He was later charged with sexual assault by penetration after his victim reported a separate incident during the investigation.
Police were called to a property in Brighton in the early hours of Saturday, 26 November, 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.
His victim – a woman in her 40s – had suffered significant injuries after what she described as a vicious, prolonged assault over more than 90 minutes, in which she feared she would be killed.
She was safeguarded and a manhunt was launched to locate Holland, who was arrested within 24 hours.
He was charged with intentional strangulation, ABH and coercive/controlling behaviour and remanded in custody on 28 November, 2022.
At Hove Crown Court on 9 February, he pleaded guilty to all three offences.
While awaiting sentencing, he was also charged with a violent sexual assault from August, 2022.
He was subsequently charged with sexual assault by penetration, of which he was found guilty by a jury at Lewes Crown Court on 8 November.
At the same court on Friday (5 January), 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.
“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: “Domestic violence 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.
“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.
“If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, please know the help is out there. Contact police online or via 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.”
