UPDATE: |Thug punched woman in stomach after ‘surgical procedure’ before sexually assaulting her News

“I welcome the lengthy prison sentence imposed on him and I hope it sends out the message that such behaviour will not be tolerated”

A thug who punched a woman in the stomach after she’d undergone surgery before sexually assaulting her has been jailed.

Timothy Talbot-Johnstone, 53, was sentenced to five years and three months when he appeared before a judge at Preston Crown Court on March 31.

Speaking after the sentencing, police condemned the ‘serious offences’, adding his jail term makes it clear ‘such offences will not be tolerated in Lancashire’.

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Lancashire Police launched an investigation after the victim made a complaint against Talbot-Johnstone. The force said she reported that he had punched her in the stomach soon after she’d had a surgical procedure.

She then made a further report of sexual assault.

Talbot-Johnstone, formerly of The Piazza, Lancaster, was found guilty by a jury of assault causing actual bodily harm after a trial in September last year.

He then pleaded guilty to an offence of sexual assault at a hearing last December.

When Talbot-Johnstone came back before the court last Monday (March 31), he was jailed and given a 10-year restraining order.

Det Con Peter Bennett of Lancashire Police, said: “These were serious offences committed by Talbot-Johnstone against a woman.

“I welcome the lengthy prison sentence imposed on him and I hope it sends out the message that such behaviour will not be tolerated in Lancashire.”

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