Colchester Abuser Jailed 43 Months For Strangling Woman

A suspended sentence activated, a seven-year restraining order imposed, and a non-fatal strangulation conviction laid bare as court papers reveal the full chronology behind a 43-month jail term.

A London man has been jailed for more than three and a half years after admitting to non-fatal strangulation and assault against a woman during an incident in Colchester, with the court also imposing a lengthy restraining order.

Daniel Baptiste, 46, of Mendip Close, Sydenham, was sentenced to a total of 43 months’ imprisonment after appearing at Ipswich Crown Court on 17 December, having pleaded guilty to assault by beating and strangulation arising from offending in July 2024.

The court heard that police were contacted in April 2025 in the immediate aftermath of an assault in which the complainant, a woman in her forties, reported being grabbed by the neck and lifted from the ground, restricting her breathing. Officers attended and an investigation was launched, led jointly by specialist public protection and domestic abuse teams.

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In the weeks that followed, officers maintained regular contact with the complainant, who later provided a detailed statement describing the incident and further aspects of Baptiste’s behaviour. As a result of those enquiries, Baptiste was traced on his return to the UK, arrested, and subsequently charged.

At sentencing, the court was told that Baptiste was already subject to a suspended prison sentence for an unrelated matter. That sentence was activated in full and ordered to run consecutively, adding 18 months to the 25-month term imposed for the strangulation and assault offences and bringing the total custodial sentence to 43 months.

The judge also imposed a seven-year restraining order, prohibiting Baptiste from contacting the complainant.

Following the hearing, the woman involved publicly thanked officers and prosecutors for their handling of the case, referring to the consistency of support provided during the investigation. Police said the result reflected the importance of early reporting and sustained engagement in cases involving domestic abuse, noting that non-fatal strangulation is treated as a serious indicator of risk.

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