SAMUEL TWEDDLE AND SHOCKING RAPE INCIDENT IN BASINGSTOKE

A man from Basingstoke has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison after being found guilty of committing a serious sexual offence. Samuel Tweddle, aged 23 and residing on Kings Road in Basingstoke, was given a sentence of seven years and six months at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday, December 17.

The conviction came after a jury deliberated and unanimously returned guilty verdicts on five separate charges that Tweddle had initially denied. These charges included one count of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one charge of witness intimidation. The offences reportedly occurred during the early hours of Sunday, July 5 of this year, on the Houndmills industrial estate in Basingstoke.

Following the incident, the victim promptly reported the attack on the same day. Support was provided by specialised officers trained to handle such sensitive cases. Investigators collected DNA evidence from the scene, which played a crucial role in securing the conviction of Tweddle.

Commenting on the case, Detective Constable Craig Ferguson from Basingstoke CID expressed the seriousness of the offence. He described the attack as 'vicious and predatory,' emphasizing the police’s commitment to tackling sexual offences. Ferguson stated, 'Sexual offences are treated very seriously by Hampshire Constabulary, and we will investigate, charge, and convict those responsible.'

He also praised the victim’s resilience, noting that she demonstrated great courage throughout the legal process. Ferguson added hope that she could now begin to recover from what he termed as a 'terrible ordeal,' reflecting the gravity of the crime and the importance of justice being served.