Sex offender who broke into girl's bedroom jailed

A man who broke into a house and tried to grab a teenage girl from her bed has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Christopher Buxey, 43, from Gosport, broke into the home of a family in a village near Chichester, West Sussex, in the early hours of 4 June.

The teenager woke to find him standing over her wearing black clothing, a balaclava and black latex gloves.

Buxey was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday for attempted false imprisonment, trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, and actual bodily harm in Sussex, as well as for a separate case of child sex abuse in Hampshire.

The girl's parents were alerted by her screams and found her lying in bed kicking at the intruder, police said.

Buxey assaulted the couple while trying to escape, but they managed to detain him until officers arrived.

He was holding pre-looped cable ties and had a further 10 prepared ties attached to a carabiner when arrested.

Officers also found a roll of duct tape, a torch which he had left on the floor by the girl's bed, and a multitool with a hammer left on her pillow.

On 6 July, Buxey appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court and pleaded guilty to trespassing on a premises with intent to commit a relevant sexual offence, and actual bodily harm.

He pleaded not guilty to an initial charge of attempted kidnap but instead admitted a charge of attempted false imprisonment.

During the hearing, Buxey also pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 by penetration, two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, and three counts of making indecent photographs of a child - all in connection with a separate investigation in Hampshire.

Det Supt Colin Garman, from Sussex Police, said: "Buxey perpetrated immensely distressing ordeals on the victims and their families.

"I'd like to thank all of the officers across both Sussex Police and Hampshire Police who have worked diligently and ceaselessly supporting the victims and their families, and carrying out complex investigations which ultimately held Buxey accountable for his crimes."

Buxey was jailed for 18 years with a further five years on licence for a total sentence of 23 years.

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