Depraved sex attacker, 46, who held woman captive and tortured her for 10 hours using a blow torch is jailed - as victim admits she would have been 'killed' if she hadn't escaped

Daily Mail​

6 hours ago

A woman who was brutally tortured, sexually assaulted and held captive for 10 hours has bravely spoken out after her depraved attacker was jailed for more than two decades.
Tommy Hitt, 46, from Sutton Veny in Wiltshire, was sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison at Winchester Crown Court on June 13 for a string of vile violen t and sexual offences.
The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, harrowingly told of how she was 'dying that night' and believes she would have been murdered if she hadn't escaped.
Hitt's terrified victim was subjected to a relentless 10-hour nightmare on February 21 this year, during which he kept her prisoner at his home, repeatedly assaulted her, used a blow torch on her, and forcibly shaved her head.
She suffered lasting damage to her face, eyes, teeth and arm – and has now released harrowing photos of her injuries through Wiltshire Police in a bid to help others who may be suffering in silence.
In a powerful statement read out in court, the woman said: 'I can't get the words he said to me out of my head, about killing me.
'I can't walk down the road without looking over my shoulder. Everything has changed.
'He beat me up for about 9 and a half hours. If I hadn't managed to get away he would have killed me. He told me that I had to ring my mum to say goodbye and for her to say goodbye to me because he was going to kill me.
'I was dying that night. I keep hearing those words. 'He is now in prison where he belongs and can not do this to anybody else.'
The shocking case was brought to light after the victim managed to flee and raise the alarm despite her severe injuries.
She was found by police at a property in Shaw, Wiltshire, where she answered the door with 'significant and very pronounced injuries.'
Detective Constable James Gatherum, of Wiltshire Police's Central CID, said: 'In the late evening of 21st February 2025, Wiltshire Police received a 999 call to an address in Shaw.
'A woman answered the door with significant and very pronounced injuries. This was the beginning of the end of a 10-hour ordeal at the hands of Tommy Hitt.
'The victim was kept at an address against her will, with her mobile phone deliberately damaged by him.
'Hitt strangled her and assaulted her with such force that he fractured her eye socket, leaving her with extensive significant bruising and swelling. She has lasting damage to both her retinas and lost a number of teeth.
'The victim was also sexually assaulted twice during those 10 hours, with threats being made by Hitt that he would kill her. To add further degradation to the victim, Hitt forcibly shaved her hair off.
'He then drove her to another location, and while doing so, repeatedly assaulted her within the vehicle. Fortunately, with quick thinking, the victim managed to escape, where she was able to raise the alarm.
'I would like to thank her for her incredible bravery in reporting the offences to the police, staying on board throughout the criminal justice process and speaking of her traumatic experience.
'If anyone finds themselves subject to behaviour like this, then please contact us – you will be listened to and you will be supported.'
Charges included intentional strangulation, false imprisonment and grievous bodily harm with intent.
He was also convicted of sexual assault, threats to kill and assault causing actual bodily harm.
Hitt was also convicted of criminal damage to property valued under £5000 and possession of a class B drug.
Hitt was sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £228 and was made the subject of a restraining order.
The victim, who has not been named, asked police to release the images of her injuries in the hope other victims may seek support.