RHYS HILLAIRE-SIMISTER

MAN JAILED FOR STRANGLING WOMAN

Rhys Hillaire-Simister, aged 33 and residing on Wid Close in Brentwood, was handed a custodial sentence at Southend Crown Court on Thursday, February 5.

He was found guilty of strangling a woman and physically assaulting her, resulting in actual bodily harm (ABH), on January 19, 2025.

Additionally, he was convicted of another assault causing ABH on December 29.

After admitting guilt for these assaults, Hillaire-Simister did not attend his original sentencing hearing at Basildon Crown Court in January, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.

During a hearing before Judge Richard Conley at Southend Crown Court on Thursday, he was sentenced to a total of 25 months in immediate custody.

The judge imposed a 14-month sentence for the strangulation, followed by a 10-month consecutive term for one of the ABH offenses, while the other ABH charge was sentenced concurrently for nine months.

Because Hillaire-Simister was in breach of a previously suspended sentence when he committed these offenses, Judge Conley added an extra month to his detention, to be served consecutively.

In May 2023, he had been given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years at Wood Green Crown Court.

That original sentence was for charges including battery, criminal damage, assault causing ABH, resisting police, possessing an offensive weapon, and having a dog dangerously out of control.