A man from Chippenham has been charged with a sex attack on a woman in her own home.
Nicholas ‘Nick’ Anthony Hodges, 41, appeared at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on Friday (31 March) to face charges of assault by penetration and sexual assault.
Asha Seenauth, prosecuting, alleged the defendant had – by invitation – attended the woman’s home with another man following an evening of drinking in Chippenham last year.
The woman is said to have put her children to bed and continued drinking with Hodges and the other man. It’s alleged that when she went to bed, he sent her a message asking if he could come and give her a hug.
It’s claimed that, after she ignored his message, Hodges entered her bedroom and kissed her neck and lips as she pretended to be asleep. The other man is said to have told Hedges to leave her room and he did.
A short time later, he’s alleged to have returned to her bedroom – where he started kissing her neck before lifting her leg and sexually assaulting her.
Ms Seenauth told the court that the woman “froze” and the alleged attack lasted two minutes.
Due to a charge of assault by penetration being indictable only, no pleas were entered and the case was sent to Salisbury Crown Court for a plea hearing on 3 May. The defendant, of Charter Road, Chippenham, was released on unconditional bail.
The alleged victim in this case has the lifelong legal right to anonymity. It is an imprisonable criminal offence to share any piece of information that could lead to their identification.
