World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Sean Haverty jailed for attempted kidnapping and strangling of woman
At Winchester Crown Court, Sean Haverty was sentenced to 10 years in prison for attacking a woman in Andover, Hampshire.
The judge also imposed four years on extended licence after the prison sentence.
The woman was walking alone when a van hit her; Haverty then dragged her towards it and strangled her.
She escaped by pretending to be unconscious, then alerted two cyclists.
Haverty was convicted of kidnap, intentional strangulation, assault and perverting the course of justice after a trial in August; he had also admitted dangerous driving.
The judge called him a danger to women he did not know, while the woman told the court the attack had left her afraid.
Sean Haverty was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by four years on extended licence, for offences including kidnap and intentional strangulation.
The attack happened in Andover, Hampshire, on March 2, when a van struck a woman in her 50s and Haverty tried to force her into it.
The woman escaped after playing dead and alerted two passing cyclists.
Haverty was convicted after a six-day trial in August and had already admitted dangerous driving.
- Who
- Sean Haverty, who was 28. His victim was a woman in her 50s.
- What
- Haverty was jailed for offences including kidnap and intentional strangulation. He also admitted dangerous driving.
- When
- The attack took place on March 2. He was sentenced the day before the article was published on November 14, 2026.
- Where
- Andover, Hampshire.
- Why
- Haverty had apparently been driving around for days searching for a woman to kidnap.
Defence
Judge Rufus Taylor
Aspect
Defence
Defence's view
Judge Rufus Taylor
Judge Rufus Taylor's view
Haverty's vulnerability
Defence
The defence asked the court to see Haverty as a vulnerable young woman.
Judge Rufus Taylor
Taylor described Haverty as a dangerous man and a danger to women unknown to him.
A van struck the victim in Andover, and Haverty tried to drag her into it before she escaped.
Haverty was convicted following a six-day trial.
Haverty was sentenced to 10 years in prison and four years on extended licence.
- Prison sentence
- 10 years
- Extended licence
- Four years
- Attack location
- Andover, Hampshire
- Victim
- Woman in her 50s
- Trial
- Six days; conviction in August
What people are saying
You are a very dangerous man and you’re a danger to women unknown to you
A man just tried to kill me.
The fact that someone was prepared to do that to me has left me with a fear that I never had before.