A domestic abuser became stuck in mud after he tried to flee across a river to evade police when they turned up at a pub to arrest him.
Karl Foster, 48, was arrested, charged and brought before the courts where he admitted assaulting a woman, strangling her and stalking her. His behaviour amounted to coercive control.
Foster was jailed for six years at Portsmouth Crown Court.
Sussex Police said: “A domestic abuser who tried to evade police in Littlehampton has been sentenced.
“Karl Foster committed assaults, intentional strangulation, coercive control and stalking of the victim.
“The 48-year-old evaded police after appeals were issued to the public about his whereabouts.
“But following those appeals and due to the public’s assistance, his whereabouts were established.
“When police attended a pub to detain him, Foster attempted to escape officers by climbing over a barrier into the River Arun at low tide.
“But he was arrested by officers in the mud and later charged with the offences.
“He initially stood trial in May this year accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, coercive control, stalking, intentional strangulation and intentional suffocation.
“But Foster, of Horsham Road, Littlehampton, changed his plea to guilty on the second day.
“At Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday 29 October, he was jailed for a total of six years for the offences.
“The court also imposed a restraining order not to contact the victim which will last until any further order is made.
“The court was told how incidents between June 2025 and September 2025 included him headbutting her, choking her, trapping her in a bedroom and then bombarding her with unwanted messages and abuse.”
Detective Constable Oscar Pennels said: “This was a distressing case which continues to have a traumatic impact for the victim.
“She has shown incredible courage to report incidents to the police.
“Foster went to great lengths to avoid being arrested despite knowing he was wanted in connection with our investigation.
“Tackling violence against women and girls is a top priority for Sussex Police.
“We were determined to get justice in this case and, thanks to the victim for reporting her experience and the strength of evidence against him, Foster had no choice but to plead guilty when presented with the evidence in court.
“He is dangerous offender who is now serving a significant custodial sentence.
“We continue to urge anyone affected by domestic abuse to report their experience to the police.”
