ADAM CUSS FROM DAVENTRY SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT NEAR OXFORD

In a disturbing case that unfolded in the early hours of March 26, a woman was subjected to a terrifying assault in Witney, with the attacker later identified as Adam Cuss, a 26-year-old man from Daventry. The incident began as Cuss was walking the victim back to her flat when he suddenly launched a violent and threatening attack.

According to court proceedings, prosecutor Alexandra Bull detailed how Cuss forcefully pushed the woman to the ground and pressed his weight down on her. During this assault, he ominously declared his intentions to have sex with her and explicitly mentioned plans to take her to a nearby lake where he would carry out a rape. The court heard that Cuss also threatened her with knives, claiming he 'worked with butchers' knives' and threatening to cut her up, adding a layer of brutality to the assault.

The victim, in a desperate attempt to de-escalate the situation, repeatedly screamed Cuss’s name, pleading with him to stop. Despite her protests, he responded with disturbing admissions, stating, 'This is me. I’ve been wanting to do this for months.' During the assault, he touched her inappropriately and made lewd comments, asking if she liked what was happening, to which she clearly responded with her refusal.

At one point, the woman attempted to punch Cuss in a bid to defend herself, which only seemed to enrage him further. Recognizing the danger, she suggested they could continue the assault in her flat, hoping to buy herself some time to seek help. Cuss then dragged her a short distance, and as they approached her building, a neighbor was present at the communal door.

The neighbor was approached by the woman, who desperately asked for help, claiming Cuss was trying to rape her. The neighbor advised her to go upstairs, and she quickly ran into her flat to call for assistance. During this time, Cuss was heard telling the neighbor that he was her 'brother,' attempting to disguise his true intentions.

After reaching safety, the victim received a threatening Facebook message from Cuss stating, 'you’re done, I’m coming back now.' She also noticed that the front door of her flat had been damaged, indicating Cuss’s attempt to return or cause further harm.

On March 2, Cuss appeared before Oxford Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempted sexual assault by penetration, sexual assault, and criminal damage. The court, presided over by Recorder Stuart Trimmer KC, sentenced him to five years in prison and imposed a restraining order that prohibits him from contacting the victim for ten years. The case was processed without a pre-sentence report from the probation service, highlighting the severity of the offense and the court’s swift response to ensure justice was served.