Latest news with #BBCHampshire&
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Man sentenced for attempted murder of woman
A man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempted murder after his assault on a woman left her with life-threatening injuries. Paul John Watts, 36, attacked the woman at Cinderford Close in Paulsgrove in Portsmouth last October. The woman has has no memory of the assault and is still recovering from her injuries. Watts, who will also serve an extended license period of five years, was found guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court on Tuesday. Hampshire Constabulary said it was called out shortly after 15:10 GMT on 31 October after concerns were raised for a 37-year-old woman. She was taken to Southampton General Hospital with "serious, potentially life-threatening injuries" and discharged from hospital earlier this year. Police said during sentencing the judge told Watts that he left her bleeding and unconscious, and "left her for dead". In a statement read to the court, her sister said: "She will never be the same again because of what Paul did that day, but with support from family and friends, her and her children will find their new normal. "I have no doubt in my mind about how far she has come, the strength and courage she has shown throughout and that she will continue to progress and will not let what happened that day define her." Senior investigating officer Elizabeth Brunt said: "The victim's injuries in this case were shocking, her recovery has been exceptional given the trauma that she endured. "Thankfully she has no memory of what happened last October. "Watts subjected the victim to violence that nobody should have to face and I'm pleased that this sentence underlines the gravity of what he did." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Attempted murder charge after woman severely injured HM Courts & Tribunals Service Hampshire Constabulary: How to report domestic abuse
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Girl's balcony fall death was 'tragic accident'
An eight-year-old girl fell to her death from a balcony while she was visiting her mother's sixth floor flat, an inquest has heard. Minnie-Rae Dunn, who lived with her grandmother in Southsea, toppled over a wall at Pickwick House in Wingfield Street, Portsmouth, in August 2023, the hearing was told. Another girl who was playing with her tried to save her but Minnie-Rae's leg slipped through her hands, the coroner heard. Hampshire acting senior coroner Jason Pegg said the death was a "desperately dreadful tragic accident". Hampshire Police previously confirmed that a 43-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of child neglect was released without charge. Giving evidence, Minnie-Rae's mother Rebecca Dunn recalled how the two girls asked to play on the balcony, which was full of objects including a cushioned seat and bags of clothes. She said: "I did say no at first but I'm a sucker for her eyes. "I ended up giving in and that is the biggest mistake of my life." Ms Dunn said she had smoked cannabis in the morning as well as an hour before her daughter fell at 18:00 BST on 24 August. The coroner asked whether that had affected her ability to look after the girls. "No," she immediately replied. In a statement read by the coroner, the second girl described how she ran and grabbed Minnie-Rae as she started to fall. The girl, who cannot be named, said: "I was touching her feet as she fell." A neighbour, Shannon Crystal, said she was watching the girls when one "made herself taller by climbing on to something". In her statement, she said she later saw that pigeon netting around the balcony was "torn and ripped down" and emergency services had gathered on the concrete below. Concluding the inquest, Mr Pegg said Minnie-Rae had fallen after standing on an object "so that her waist was above the wall of the balcony". In a handwritten statement following the inquest, Ms Dunn said her daughter was a "happy, lovable, sassy little girl". She added: "She was loved by all that met her... Her passing had and continues to have a massive impact on our lives. "Her smile was just as bright as the sun. We will have to love you from afar, but that love will never, never stop." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. No further action after girl dies in balcony fall Tribute to 'angel' girl who died in balcony fall Woman bailed after girl dies in tower block fall Hampshire Coroner's Service
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged with murder and rape of woman in 2023
A man has been charged with the murder and rape of a woman who was found dead in 2023. Hampshire police previously said officers were called at 11:30 GMT on 28 December to a report of a body at a property in Nevinson Way, Waterlooville. Joanna Derkacz, 37, was later pronounced dead. Police said Stephen Sexton, 37, of Cherrywood Gardens, Totton, had been charged following a detailed investigation into the circumstances. He is due to appear before Southampton magistrates on Saturday. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
BBC News
30-04-2025
- BBC News
Man found dead in Southsea on Boxing Day identified after appeals
A man whose body was found on the Hampshire coast on Boxing Day has been identified following several police 72-year-old, from Southsea, was identified after Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary asked for help identifying him after officers were called to Eastney East Battery on Southsea death is not being treated as suspicious and his family has been police force, which repeated its appeal information in March, has sent a file to the coroner. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
26-04-2025
- BBC News
Basingstoke man charged after 15-year-old girl raped
A 21-year-old man has been charged in connection with the rape of a 15-year-old girl. Hampshire and Isle of White Constabulary said the charges related to a reported rape in Basingstoke on 24 Taylor-Swhyer, from Basingstoke, has been charged with rape after the incident was reported to police earlier this 21-year-old has also been charged with three counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker in relation to separate incident on 11 April, police said. He appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Friday, where he was remanded in is next due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on 28 May. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
