Man Jailed Six Years for Assaulting and Choking Woman in Her Home

A man who was convicted of indecently assaulting a woman and attempting to choke her inside her own home has been sentenced to six years in prison.

According to the Antigua Observer, the man was found guilty by a jury in March after his defence that the encounter had been a prearranged agreement for sex in exchange for money was rejected.

The case stemmed from an incident on August 23, 2022, involving a 48-year-old woman who testified that the accused, then 34, entered her yard uninvited while she was outside feeling unwell and her boyfriend was away from home.

The woman told the court that she initially believed the man had left the property and began doing laundry. However, she later realized he was still there. After declining his offer to help and informing him that she had no alcohol, juice, or money to give him, the man allegedly groped her on three separate occasions.

According to the evidence presented at trial, the situation escalated when he forced her into the kitchen and demanded sex. When she refused, he grabbed her by the neck and attempted to choke her.

With no one else at home, the woman testified that she remained calm and convinced him to step outside to turn off the washing machine. She then locked the kitchen door behind him.

However, the accused did not leave the premises.

Jurors were shown CCTV footage that reportedly captured the man reaching through the louvres of the front door and letting himself back into the house. The woman then ran outside screaming for help.

The footage also showed her on the ground with the accused standing over her before a neighbour intervened and ordered him to leave the property.

During the trial, the accused claimed that the visit had been arranged in advance and that he had paid the woman $90 for a sexual encounter. He told jurors that he re-entered the house only to recover his money.

The jury rejected his account and returned guilty verdicts on both charges.

At sentencing, the court imposed a 14-month prison sentence for indecent assault and six years for attempting to choke the woman. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning the man will serve six years behind bars.