A Wiltshire man has been sentenced to more than two decades in jail after subjecting his victim to 10 hours of abuse in a 'horrific attack.'
Tommy Hitt, 46, of Springhead, Sutton Veny near Warminster, pleaded guilty to 10 offences at Salisbury Crown Court in March, including false imprisonment, intentional strangulation, sexual assault and actual and grievous bodily harm with intent.
The court heard how Hitt put his partner through 10 hours of torture on February 21, 2025.
The Wiltshire man held the victim in his property against her will, and the proceeded to burn her with a blowtorch, sexually assault her, stamp on her head and threaten to burn her eyes out and kill her.
She was left with "lasting damage" to her eyes after he fractured her eye socket causing retinal detachment.
During the assault, which has been described as "prolonged and serious", Hitt also shaved his victim's head.
On Friday, June 13, Hitt was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to 21.5 years in prison.
Tommy Hitt has been sentenced in Winchester Crown Court (Image: Newsquest) The sentencing judge, HHJ Dugdale, found that Hitt represented an ongoing risk to society and members of the public.
He described the offences as using "an inexplicable level of violence" in a "horrific attack."
Detective Constable James Gatherum added: "In the late evening of February 21, Wiltshire Police received a 999 call to an address in Shaw.
"A woman had presented at a door of a property 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.
Tommy Hitt (Image: Wiltshire Police) "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."
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He added: "I would like to thank her for the 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."