Town Centre CCTV helps with conviction
Town Centre CCTV helps with conviction
The quick work of one of the Council’s Eastleigh town centre CCTV operators alerted the Police to an assault and also provided vital evidence that led to the conviction a 20-year-old man.
Jeremy Blake Simmons of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to a number of offences at Southampton Crown Court last September. He was sentenced to 13 years 4 months after admitting a number of offences following a serious assault in Eastleigh in August 2020. Southampton Crown Court heard how Simmons attacked a woman at around 2.15am on Tuesday 4 August 2020 as she walked along Leigh Road and then dragged her into Leigh Road Park.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Sean Owens from Hampshire Constabulary’s Amberstone team, said: “I would like to commend the victim for her courage that she has shown throughout the whole investigation. This was no doubt an awful ordeal which she was faced to re-live; but we must praise her for doing so, as it is not always easy to do so. I would also like to say thank you to the CCTV operator who alerted police to the attack – undoubtedly their quick thinking ensured that the victim was not subjected to a more severe and violent attack.”
Cabinet Lead for Health Cllr Tonia Craig said. “I’m pleased that our CCTV system and the quick thinking of our operator helped the Police in this incident. Our CCTV throughout the town helps to assist in the detection, prevention and deterrence of crime, which in turn provides for a reduction in the fear of crime and provide reassurance to those who live, work and visit Eastleigh”