Man jailed for sexual assault on stranger in her home

A man who "brutally" sexually assaulted a woman in her own home, dragging her back to the property by her hair when she tried to escape, has been jailed for 20 years.

Benjamin Guiver, from Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, entered the property in Goodwick, where the woman - whose identity is protected by law - was sleeping before violently attacking her.

Swansea Crown Court heard how the victim was mercilessly and repeatedly beaten by Guiver on 24 May 2024.

Judge Geraint Walters said it was "hard for anybody to imagine a more brutal and terrifying attack within a person’s own home".

The court heard that the victim had fallen asleep at around 21:00 BST in her living room while watching TV and waiting for her partner to return home.

She awoke to see Guiver, who she did not know, kneeling beside her, and attempted to run from the property.

Guiver followed her, covering her mouth as she tried to scream for help, kicking her and throwing her across the drive.

He then dragged the woman back to the house by her hair before sexually assaulting her.

After she was thrown onto the bed, the woman tried to reason with him, saying she could tell he was upset but Guiver then started to strangle the female victim, telling her he was going to rape and kill her.

Guiver sexually assaulted the victim and while she pleaded with him to let her go he repeatedly hit her head on a radiator.

The attack only stopped when her relative and partner arrived home and chased Guiver out of the house.

Prosecutor Robin Rouch said there were multiple injuries to the female victim including fractures and extensive bruising to the face and stomach.

In an impact statement read on her behalf, the victim said the attack has ruined her life as she thought she was taking her last breath.

It read: “I am a shell.

“Constantly nervous and frightened of my own shadow.”

The victim said the ongoing injuries have affected her day to day life as it is a “struggle to look in the mirror due to the injuries”.

“I feel I am no longer myself," she added, saying “simple tasks like folding sheets is a struggle” and her partner now has to help her get dressed and do her hair.

She said she can no longer sleep in the same room where the assault happened

“My whole life has been ruined by one person on one night," she added.

“I know what has happened is going to continue to haunt me for the rest of my life.”

Guiver was sentenced to 20 years including a custodial term of 15 years and an extended licence period of five years.

A restraining order to run indefinitely has also been put in place, preventing him from having any contact with the victim.