Man jailed for three and a half years for violent sexual assault on estranged wife

Judge: 'This was very terrifying incident. The assault had a significant effect, physically and mentally'

The judge described the offence as a 'terrifying' one which had a significant physical and mental effect on the victim.

A three-and-a-half-year sentence was imposed on a 40-year-old who carried out a violent sexual assault on his wife at a time when their relationship had broken down but when they were still living in the same house.

Mr Justice Michael McGrath imposed a sentence of five years and suspended the final 18 months of it, saying: “This was very terrifying incident. The assault had a significant effect, physically and mentally.”