Damon Furmedge, then aged 36, formerly of Weaver Street, Winsford, Cheshire, was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, 10 September, after being convicted of rape, violent assault, and coercive control.
The sentencing concludes a major investigation conducted by detectives from Northwich CID, initiated in November 2024 following an anonymous telephone call alerting Cheshire Constabulary to domestic abuse.
Officers arranged to speak with the female victim in a private setting.
Although initially fearful of violent reprisals, the victim disclosed the extensive scope of Furmedge’s physical and psychological torment.
The court heard that during an initial physical assault, Furmedge threw the victim fully clothed into a bath filled with water, forcibly holding her under the surface by her neck on two occasions.
The victim told police she was left terrified that she was about to be drowned.
Furmedge subsequently established a regime of digital surveillance to dominate her life, installing covert cameras and audio microphones throughout her residence to monitor her private conversations.
He further tracked her physical movements by monitoring her mobile phone and issued violent threats, leaving the victim in such extreme distress that she contemplated ending her life to escape.
Furmedge maintained a denial of all allegations, forcing the case to a contested eight-day Crown Court trial that concluded on 29 May.
The jury rejected his defence and convicted him of:
- Rape
- Assault
- Two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour
Detective Constable Hannah Lamborn praised the victim for her remarkable courage in supporting the criminal investigation, pointing out that the initial anonymous disclosure by a member of the public was pivotal in providing the survivor with the reassurance needed to report the offences.
The presiding judge handed Furmedge an immediate custodial sentence of 14 years (168 months).
In addition to the prison term, the court issued an indefinite restraining order prohibiting Furmedge from contacting the victim directly or indirectly, alongside an order requiring him to comply with the statutory notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.
Release Calculation: Under UK sentencing legislation governing determinate sentences of seven years or more for serious sexual offences, Furmedge is not entitled to automatic early release at the halfway mark. He is required to serve at least two-thirds (112 months / nine years and four months) of his 168-month custodial term in prison custody before becoming eligible to apply to the Parole Board for release on licence. If granted early release, Furmedge will serve the remainder of the sentence under strict supervision by the Probation Service in the community until the full 14-year term expires.
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