DANGEROUS AND VIOLENT SEX OFFENDER JAILED FOR EIGHT YEARS
A dangerous and violent man who sexually and physically attacked a woman is today beginning an eight-year prison sentence.Craig Lindon Spruce must also sign the sex offender register for life.
Bradford Crown Court heard how 38-year-old Spruce’s offending was fuelled by alcohol and cocaine.
The court heard that Spruce's lifestyle included taking drugs and watching pornography.
He would build up drug debts despite not working himself.
An incident of strangulation, during which he threatened to kill her, left the victim struggling to swallow for several days.
She also had nail marks on her neck.
Spruce, of Illingworth, Calderdale, told her: I will gouge your eyes out.
Prosecutor Jayne Beckett said the victim suffered from depression and anxiety and was taking medication.
On being arrested, Spruce denied attempting to strangle the victim.
He was convicted after a trial of offences including sexual assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation.
Sentencing him to a total of eight years imprisonment Miss Recorder Aisha Wadoodi said: You were interviewed and denied all the matters and in fact said that [the victim] was the one trying to set you up and that none of the allegations were true.
The author of the [pre-sentence] report identifies you as dangerous ....
and therefore assessed as posing a high risk of harm.
She told Spruce that he would serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody and then be released on licence.
