ANDREW CUSTOS AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN BRACKNELL AND HIGH WYCOMBE

This report sheds light on the disturbing case involving Andrew Custos, a man whose actions have deeply shocked the communities of Bracknell and High Wycombe. Custos, a man from Wroxham, was convicted last week after a series of troubling events that culminated in a serious sexual assault on a woman near her home.

The incident dates back to the night of February 26, 2022, when Custos was observed engaging in suspicious activity in High Wycombe. According to reports, he was driving his white Mercedes through the town center at approximately 2 a.m. when he noticed a woman who appeared to be unsteady as she left The Ship pub and hailed a taxi. His presence was reportedly noticed by witnesses, raising concern about his behavior.

Custos then purportedly followed the taxi for a distance of about 3.5 miles, disregarding traffic signals along the way, until the taxi reached the woman's destination at the end of her street. After she got out, she attempted to walk back to her home, but Custos was seen continuing to follow her, despite her efforts to walk past her residence and further down the street. According to the prosecutor Mr. Brown, it was clear that Custos had been effectively stalking her during her journey home.

The situation escalated dramatically when Custos approached the woman as she turned back. He allegedly seized her and uttered threatening words such as, "come on, you know you want it," in a disturbing attempt at coercion. The woman struggled to fend him off for several minutes, but Custos overpowered her, picking her up and carrying her into nearby woods near Booker Common at approximately 2:22 a.m., as shown by CCTV footage.

While in the secluded woodland area, Custos committed an assault, touching the woman’s bottom and attempting to kiss her—acts of sexual violence that left her traumatized. It was only after some minutes that Custos, seemingly realizing the gravity of his actions, fled the scene at around 2:29 a.m. The woman, shaken and distressed, managed to return home and immediately contacted the police.

Following the police investigation, Custos was arrested on March 11, 2022. As a HGV driver, he faced serious legal repercussions for his actions. His trial resulted in a conviction and a sentence of 57 months in prison, handed down at Reading Crown Court on Friday, August 12. Custos was found guilty of sexual assault and committing an offence with the intent to commit sexual assault.

In addition to his prison sentence, Custos was ordered to be registered on the sex offenders register for life. He is also legally barred from contacting the victim, whether directly or indirectly, for a period of ten years. The case has drawn attention to issues surrounding personal safety and the importance of vigilance in public spaces, especially during late-night hours in communities such as Bracknell and High Wycombe.