**This article contains distressing images.**

A man from Sutton Veny has been sentenced to 21.5 years in prison for multiple domestic abuse offences, putting a victim through a 10-hour torture.

Tommy Hitt, 46, of Springhead, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on June 13, after previously pleading guilty to:

Hitt was sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £228 and was made the subject of a restraining order.

On February 21, Hitt subjected his victim to a 10-hour ordeal, kept her at his property against her will, assaulted her numerous times and shaved her head. Hitt also burnt her head using a blow torch.

Hitt caused many long-lasting physical and psychological injuries including causing damage to her face, permanent damage to her eyes, teeth and arm.

In an impact statement, the victim said, "I can't get the words he said to me out of my head, about killing me. I can't walk down the road without looking over my shoulder. Everything has changed.

"He beat me up for about 9 and a half hours. If I hadn't managed to get away he would have killed me. He told me that I had to ring my mum to say goodbye and for her to say goodbye to me because he was going to kill me. I was dying that night. I keep hearing those words.

"He is now in prison where he belongs and can not do this to anybody else."

Detective Constable James Gatherum, of Central CID said, "In the late evening of 21st February 2025, Wiltshire Police received a 999 call to an address in Shaw. A woman answered the door 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.

"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.

"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.

"I would like to thank her for her 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."

** This report, including images, has been issued with the victim's consent.

If you think you have been the victim of domestic abuse, there is help and support available. You can find more information on how to report on our website: Advice about domestic abuse | Wiltshire Police

There is more information of local support agencies which include: