A Chippenham man met a woman on Tinder and within 24 hours launched a brutal assault. Jake Clark, 29, battered the woman, trapped her in his flat, and stole money from her bank card.
The victim, in her 30s, had just met Clark the day before the savage attack. He headbutted and punched her repeatedly, injuring her eye socket, smashed her phone, and wouldn’t let her leave.
Three Years Behind Bars & Long Restraining Order
Clark, with a troubling history of violence against women, was convicted of actual bodily harm and false imprisonment at Swindon Crown Court on 5 December. He was jailed for three years and two months and slapped with a restraining order barring any contact for five years and nine months.
Police were alerted at 9am on 7 March after passers-by saw the injured woman begging for help outside Clark’s Portway flat in Hungerdown Lane. Forensics sealed the scene.
History of Abuse ignored by Tinder Killer
This isn’t Clark’s first offence. Back in 2021, Wiltshire Police reported a savage attack on a girlfriend where he bit and strangled her. He was already serving a suspended sentence for theft, criminal damage, and assault from 2018.
“Clark is a violent man – he knew his victim had been searching for companionship but he instead took advantage of this and subjected her to a terrifying ordeal… She has been left feeling extremely anxious and nervous,” said DC Daniel Jackson of Central CID.
“Clark barricaded his victim inside his flat to stop her getting help. It was only thanks to a passer-by that police were called in time to prevent more harm.”
“We urge everyone using dating apps to stay safe and tell someone where they are going.”
This harsh sentence sends a clear message: violence against women won’t be tolerated, especially when it preys on vulnerability blasted by dating apps.
