In 2023, the Offender Database recorded that Adam Cuss, then 26, of Chartwell Close, Daventry, Northamptonshire, was jailed for five years for a terrifying sexual assault in Witney. On appearing at Oxford Crown Court on 2 March 2023, the defendant admitted to a brutal attack in which he threatened to rape and kill his victim. It was reported that Cuss was walking the woman back to her flat in the early hours of 26 March 2022 when he launched the assault, pushing her to the ground and using his weight to pin her down.
The investigation established that Cuss used extreme verbal intimidation to petrify the victim. Thames Valley Police reported that Cuss told the woman he worked with butchers’ knives and threatened to cut her up. The prosecution reported that he expressed a desire to take her to a lake to rape her, chillingly stating, “This is me. I’ve been wanting to do this for months,” when the victim tried to reason with him.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that the victim managed to escape by using a ruse, telling Cuss they could go to her flat to buy herself time. Oxford Crown Court heard how a neighbour at the communal door was alerted to the situation, but Cuss attempted to deceive the witness by claiming he was the victim’s brother. The investigation established that once the woman reached the safety of her home, Cuss sent her a threatening Facebook message stating, “you’re done, I’m coming back now,” and subsequently damaged her front door.
Recorder Stuart Trimmer KC noted the gravity of the threats and the physical nature of the assault. For his actions in Witney, Cuss pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault by penetration, sexual assault, and criminal damage. The judge noted the lack of remorse and the premeditated comments made during the attack, resulting in a five-year custodial sentence and a 10-year restraining order to protect the survivor.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Adam Cuss is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: Five years in prison (2023).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for life.
- Restraining Order: 10-year order barring contact with the victim.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Oxford Crown Court following a Thames Valley Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Attempted sexual assault by penetration; Sexual assault; Criminal damage.
- Origin: Chartwell Close, Daventry, Northamptonshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Cuss is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the police and the National Probation Service in Northamptonshire. Due to the violent and predatory nature of his conduct in Witney, his management is subject to scrutiny. Authorities state that his lifelong inclusion on the Sex Offenders Register and his 10-year restraining order are essential tools to monitor his residency and ensure he is prevented from approaching the victim or engaging in further threatening behaviour upon his eventual release.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register for life, Cuss must comply with all notification requirements regarding his identity and residence. Authorities state that his history of sexual violence in Oxfordshire necessitates permanent vigilance. Any future attempt to contact the victim, breach his restraining order, or engage in inappropriate behaviour in Daventry, Witney, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for further incarceration.
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