ANDREW BATCHELOR SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS IN PRISON FOR TERRORISING WOMEN IN WINCHESTER
In a case that has spanned nearly two decades, Andrew Batchelor, a resident of Winchester, was handed a severe prison sentence of 14 years for his prolonged campaign of violence and intimidation against three women.The crimes, which took place between 1989 and 2008, involved a series of brutal assaults and threats that left his victims in constant fear for their safety.
Batchelor, who was living on Thurmond Road in Stanmore at the time of his sentencing, was convicted after a comprehensive three-week trial at Winchester Crown Court.
The jury found him guilty of six separate offences committed against the women, whose identities are protected by legal restrictions.
Among his victims was a young girl aged between 8 and 10 years old at the time of some of the attacks, highlighting the severity and disturbing nature of his crimes.
During the sentencing, Judge Keith Cutler described Batchelor as possessing a complex and troubling personality.
He remarked that, “We have heard from many witnesses that for much of the time in question you were a charming man.
But this trial has also shown that there is a second side to your character of a violent, controlling man and a bully.” The judge’s comments underscore the duality of Batchelor’s persona, which masked a darker, more aggressive side.
The court heard that Batchelor’s violent actions included two assaults causing actual bodily harm, each carrying a sentence of 12 months to be served concurrently.
He was also convicted of rape, which carries a maximum sentence of nine years, as well as sexual assault involving penetration, for which he received a five-year term.
Additionally, he was found guilty of making two threats to kill, each resulting in a three-year sentence to be served concurrently.
As part of his sentence, Batchelor will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life following his release from prison.
The case highlights the long-lasting impact of his crimes on his victims and the justice system’s response to such serious offences in Winchester.
