A New Cross man who battered a woman with a wooden chair leg when she refused to have sex with him has been jailed.

Simon Sparshatt, 47, of Waller Road, was sentenced to a total of 13 years’ imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court on January 14 after pleading guilty to GBH, false imprisonment and threats to kill at the same hearing.

Police were called to Sparshatt’s address on November 20 by a concerned member of the public, after they had heard a woman calling for help.

On arrival, officers had to force entry – inside they found a 40-year-old woman with serious head injuries.

She alleged Sparshatt had held her against her will and then repeatedly hit her with a wooden chair leg when she refused to have sex with him.

Sparshatt was arrested and once in police custody initially admitted attacking the victim, suggesting he intended to cause her more harm. He was subsequently charged and remanded in custody.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment and subsequently discharged.

DC Cora Keogh of the South East BCU said: “This was a violent and sustained attack on a defenceless woman; if it hadn’t been for the prompt call to police by a concerned member of the public and the actions of the officers when they arrived then this could have had far more serious consequences.

“Sparshatt is a violent man and I am pleased that the court has handed him a significant jail sentence which truly reflects the seriousness of his crime.”