Ashley Gaunt Jailed After Violent Attacks and Attempted Suffocation in Crowborough

A 64-year-old man has been jailed after carrying out a series of violent attacks and attempting to smother a woman in Crowborough. Ashley Gaunt, of Poplar Crescent in West Ewell, was sentenced to three years in prison following repeated incidents of physical and verbal abuse against a woman in her 60s between April 2024 and […]

A 64-year-old man has been jailed after carrying out a series of violent attacks and attempting to smother a woman in Crowborough.

Ashley Gaunt, of Poplar Crescent in West Ewell, was sentenced to three years in prison following repeated incidents of physical and verbal abuse against a woman in her 60s between April 2024 and May 2025.

The abuse escalated over time and culminated on 12 May 2025 when Gaunt threatened to kill the victim, dragged her by the hair, punched her and attempted to smother her. The victim managed to escape and contact police. Officers arrested Gaunt later that same day.

Following an investigation by Sussex Police, Gaunt was charged in December 2025 with five counts of assault, one count of intentional suffocation and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to all offences. He was later sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on 11 February to three years’ imprisonment. The court also imposed a 10-year restraining order to protect the victim from any further contact.

Investigating officer PC Tobie Whitten said the victim had been left living in fear, particularly at night when she felt most vulnerable. He praised her bravery in coming forward and reporting the abuse, which ultimately led to Gaunt’s conviction and imprisonment.

Police have reiterated that reports of domestic abuse are taken extremely seriously and encouraged anyone experiencing violence or coercive behaviour to contact authorities via 101, or 999 in an emergency.