A former army rifleman has been slammed behind bars after being found guilty of a vicious assault spree, including intentional suffocation and threats with offensive weapons.
Simon Lythe’s Violent Past Caught Up With Him
Simon Lythe, 32, from Reading, was convicted on six counts at Reading Crown Court on April 2. The charges included two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, threatening a person with an offensive weapon or corrosive substance, common assault, and intentional suffocation. Despite pleading “not guilty” to all charges, Lythe was found guilty after a gruelling trial. The court heard harrowing details of his attacks, including an incident where he strangled and punched a woman who feared for her life after kicking him out of her flat.
Cycle of Abuse Spanning Years
The violent outburst happened on March 8, 2022, during an argument with his partner over an Instagram post. The victim suffered bruises on her arms, legs, and neck, but escaped and sought help from a neighbour. Lythe’s brutal record doesn’t end there. His previous convictions include choking his ex-wife in 2017, attacking an ex-girlfriend in 2018, and punching another former partner in 2021.
Long Prison Sentence for Serial Abuser
Lythe was previously sentenced to 31 months in May 2022 for assault by beating, causing actual bodily harm, and breaching a suspended sentence order. Now he faces a new jail term of 48 months with an additional year’s extended licence handed down on April 2 at Reading Crown Court.
