Hampshire man David Spreadbridge, 45, who sexually assaulted woman in Needham Market receives suspended jail sentence

A man has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a woman in Needham Market.

David Spreadbridge, 45, of The Dene, Ropley, in Hampshire, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday to a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

It follows a guilty plea earlier this year to the offence of sexual assault of a female.

The victim was not known to Spreadbridge before and reported concerns to police on October 7, 2023 after identifying injuries on her body.

Police inquiries identified Spreadbridge as the perpetrator and he was arrested at his home on October 10.

Additional evidence was located through digital investigations, which led to Spreadbridge being charged while in custody.

Investigating officer DC Evans-Eastman, from the Safeguarding and Investigations unit based in Bury St Edmunds, said: “I would like to pay tribute to the victim for her bravery working with us throughout the investigation to ensure we achieved this conviction.

“I would also like to thank the Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) who supported the victim through this process.

“Anyone who is a victim of any sexual offence can be reassured that they can and should come forward and contact us.

“All complaints are taken seriously and we continue to work with partner agencies to provide victims with appropriate support whilst conducting a robust and thorough investigation.”