In 2022, the Offender Database recorded that Christopher Spybey, then 44, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 12 months for a sexual assault involving the threat of a weapon. On Monday, 7 March 2022, Spybey appeared at Southampton Crown Court for sentencing. The court reported that the defendant targeted a woman in her 50s on London Road, Hilsea, Portsmouth, while she was getting into her car.
The investigation established that on Thursday, 28 October 2021, at approximately 7:15 pm, Spybey approached the victim and sexually assaulted her by touching her inappropriately over her clothing. He proceeded to demand a kiss and attempted to hug her against her will. The victim reported that Spybey claimed to have a knife in his possession during the encounter. After the victim managed to escape and reach her home, Hampshire Constabulary arrested Spybey the following day, finding a knife in his pocket as he had claimed.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Spybey had initially pleaded not guilty, forcing the case to a two-day jury trial. Southampton Crown Court heard that the victim’s detailed description enabled officers to quickly identify the defendant. The judge noted that the combination of sexual assault and the possession of a knife in a public space in Hilsea, Portsmouth, represented a serious breach of public safety.
The judge noted that despite the defendant’s lack of a permanent address, the risk he posed to women in the Hilsea area necessitated an immediate custodial sentence. For his actions in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Spybey was found guilty by a jury. The prosecution reported that the victim’s quick thinking in fleeing the scene and her prompt report to the police were instrumental in ensuring the defendant was apprehended before he could target anyone else.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Christopher Spybey was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 12 months in prison.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for ten years.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Southampton Crown Court following a jury trial.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Spybey is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Hampshire Constabulary and the prison estate. Due to the “aggressive” nature of the assault and the use of a weapon in Hilsea, Portsmouth, his management is subject to oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Spybey must comply with notification requirements for the next ten years. Authorities state that his history of carrying a knife while committing a sexual offence in Hampshire necessitates strict monitoring of his conduct and any potential weapons possession upon his release. Any breach of his registration conditions or his licence terms will result in immediate arrest and a return to Southampton Crown Court.
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