Locations
Rochester Close, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63
Description
A 21-year-old man has been jailed for sexual assault in Ashington – after being identified as a result of a Northumbria Police appeal.
On September 24 2024, just before midnight, Devon Critchlow forced his way through the door of a stranger’s Ashington address after the woman opened the door, believing he was someone else.
Critchlow pinned the woman down, punched her in the face and then sexually assaulted her – also forcing his hands around her neck.
After the woman fought back at Critchlow, he then stood up, left the address, and shut the door behind him.
The victim reported the incident to police who immediately attended the address and launched an investigation.
Quickly, an individual was identified on CCTV following the victim home – and Northumbria Police appealed to the public to identify the man. Within hours, members of the public identified Critchlow as the suspect, and he was arrested and interviewed in connection with the report.
As part of the investigation, officers seized a black jacket matching the CCTV images of Critchlow from the time the offences took place and were also able to match fingerprints from the scene with that of Critchlow.
The day after his arrest, Critchlow, of Rochester Close, Ashington, was charged with a string of offences.
In January, he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to four offences of assault, non-fatal strangulation, sexual assault, and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence.
On Wednesday, April 16, he was back at the same court where he was sentenced to five years and three months’ imprisonment with a further five years on licence once he is released.
Critchlow will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was handed a restraining order to protect the victim.