Jury finds Southampton man guilty of rape, strangulation and coercive & controlling behaviour

A 63-year-old man from Southampton has been found guilty of the coercive and controlling behaviour, rape and intentional strangulation of a woman in her 60s.

A jury found Elvis Williams, of Mosaic Close, guilty of the offences at Southampton Crown Court on Friday (28 July) following a five day trial.

Williams previously pleaded guilty to two assaults on the woman earlier in the trial.

The court heard how on Saturday 4 March the victim asked for assistance from a member of the public having been assaulted by Williams.

Officers attended and the victim reported that Williams had punched her a number of times and forced her to have sex with him.

She also reported how he had previously strangled her until she couldn’t breathe.

Officers arrested Williams and he was subsequently charged with rape, intentional strangulation, engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour and two counts of assault.

While he pleaded guilty to the two assaults at the beginning of his trial, he maintained not guilty pleas in relation to the rape, controlling/coercive behaviour and intentional strangulation charges. Following the trial, the jury found him guilty in relation to these charges.

Police Staff Investigator Keely Osborne, who led the investigation, said: “First and foremost, I would like to commend the survivor of Williams’ awful crimes for the bravery she has shown throughout the investigation and thank her for sharing her experience with us. Without her courage during the criminal justice process we would not have secured these guilty verdicts.

“I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the members of the public who came forward to give eyewitness accounts and statements. Their support was vital in ensuring this conviction.

“Rape, sexual offences and domestic violence have a devastating impact on victims who often feel as though they are trapped and cannot seek help.

“That is why we are committed to tackling this type of behaviour and bringing those responsible to justice.

“If in seeing this verdict, you too believe you may have been a victim of sexual advances or physical abuse by Elvis Williams, we would please implore you to come forward. We appreciate that this may be difficult for you, but we are keen to see that further justice is served if he has exploited other vulnerable women.

“We would also urge anyone who feels they are a victim of domestic abuse, rape and other sexual offences to not suffer in silence. Please call the police or a domestic abuse support service. You will be listened to and you will be supported.”

We appreciate that not everyone has the confidence to report to police. However, there are organisations in your area, completely independent of the police, that can help you if you need it.

If you are a survivor of domestic abuse in Southampton, Yellow Door, a local charity, can offer you a range of help and support. Visit their website, yellowdoor.org.uk or contact them on 023 8063 6312 to find out more.

If you believe you’ve been a victim of Williams’ specifically, please call 101 quoting reference 44230088285/Op Legislation. You can also report online via https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/

For more information on the support available, and how to report to police, visit https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences/rape-sexual-assault-support/