A man has been jailed for 18 years after he raped and assaulted a woman in Alton.

Elijah Mochia, 31, of no fixed abode, raped the woman, who was aged in her 20s, multiple times during their six-month relationship.

Winchester Crown Court heard that from an early stage the relationship was dominated by the violent and controlling behaviour of Mochia.

He made her sign written contracts in relation to her behaviour and physically assaulted her between December 2021 and May 2022.

Mochia put his hands around her throat, punched her in the ribs and bit her ear. He also threatened her with scissors.

He was arrested by officers and later charged with three counts of rape – one being a multiple incident count, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of controlling and coercive behaviour.

Mochia refused to attend court and the trial went ahead in his absence. He was found guilty by a jury and was jailed for a total of 18 years, with an extended licence period of eight years, on Friday 28 February.

He will remain on the sexual offenders register for the rest of his life.

Detective sergeant Bethan Hastelow, from Hampshire Police CID, said: “Firstly, I would like to praise the victim in this case for her bravery and courage throughout the investigation and trial in extremely challenging circumstances.

“This was a horrifying campaign of violence and controlling behaviour which has had a long-lasting impact on the woman involved.

“Mochia is a dangerous and manipulative offender and I hope that now he is in prison, she is able to try and move forward and rebuild her life.

“No one should have to feel in fear of their safety and everyone should feel safe and protected within our communities and violence of any kind will not be tolerated.

“I hope this case sends a clear message to those who commit violent and sexual offences, you will be pursued, we will catch you and you will be dealt with robustly.”

In a statement, Hampshire Police said: “Serious sexual offences are one of the most devastating crimes a person can survive and that’s why we prioritise it.

“If you have been affected by sexual abuse, you can report this to police by calling 101. You will be treated in the strictest of confidence and we will provide you with the help and support you need.

“We recognise not everyone who has experienced this type of abuse has the confidence to report to police.

“There are support services out there that can offer help to you, completely independent of the police, should you need support. “