Builder Jailed for Brutal Assault After Hit-and-Run in Portslade
Lee Norris, 51, a builder from Sutton, has been slammed with a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence for a violent attack on a woman in Portslade. The shocking assault followed a hit-and-run incident on Tuesday, November 8, where Norris fled after crashing into another vehicle.
Police Catch Norris with Blood on His Hands
Thanks to a quick-thinking witness and CCTV footage, police identified Norris as the driver. Officers found him later that evening at a property in Portslade. There, they discovered a distressed woman with serious facial injuries. She told police Norris had violently assaulted her, strangled her, and threatened to kill her if she reported him.
Blood was visible on Norris’s hands when officers arrested him on multiple charges. These included actual bodily harm, threats to kill, failing to stop after a road traffic collision, driving without insurance, intentional strangulation, and refusal to provide a specimen for analysis.
Norris Pleads Guilty and Gets Heavy Sentence
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on November 10, Norris pleaded guilty to all six charges and was remanded in custody. On June 19, Chichester Crown Court handed him four years and six months behind bars. He must also serve a further two years on extended licence due to being declared dangerous.
Additionally, Norris was slapped with a six-year restraining order and banned from driving for 63 months.
Detective Praises Victim’s Courage, Warns on Domestic Abuse
“The victim showed immense bravery, and our officers responded swiftly to protect her,” said Detective Sergeant Jenny Pietersen of Brighton and Hove’s Safeguarding Investigations Unit. “Domestic abuse often starts subtly but can spiral into serious violence and control. We urge anyone suffering abuse to come forward – we are here to help and deliver justice.”
