Tyler Lynch, aged 20, from St Helens, has been sentenced to four years in a young offenders' institute after being found guilty of sexual assault, intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and criminal damage. The offences occurred when he was 19, targeting a woman who feared she would be raped during the attack.
Attack Details
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Lynch persistently touched the complainant sexually and attempted to remove her clothing and underwear, despite her clear lack of interest. He also tried to undo his pants quickly. Prosecutor Louise McCloskey stated that Lynch grabbed the woman's bodysuit so forcefully that a metal clasp broke as part of his efforts to overpower her.
During the assault, Lynch strangled the victim from behind, leaving her unable to breathe. She saw herself in a mirror going blue. McCloskey added: 'She says that she felt weak, her body went floppy and she thought she might die. She later described vomiting after the incident and feeling traumatised.' The woman also experienced nightmares of being strangled and had a panic attack when she thought she saw Lynch in public.
Court Proceedings
Lynch, who had no previous convictions, was found guilty by a jury. Defence barrister Desmond Lennon noted that Lynch had committed an offence during the trial, testing positive for cannabis and cocaine and trying to run from police. Lennon said Lynch is unable to accept the verdicts but respects the process, and that a pre-sentence report reveals immaturity, lack of consequential thinking, and an emotionally unstable outlook.
Lennon highlighted that Lynch had a difficult childhood, leading to issues with drugs and alcohol, but also a positive attitude towards work. He has found a job at HMP Walton making food packages and completed a managing emotions course.
Sentencing Remarks
Judge Neil Flewitt KC told Lynch: 'It is a sad reflection on certain elements of society that men like you are influenced into believing that this is the appropriate way to behave towards women. It isn't.' The judge noted that the victim thought Lynch was trying to rape her, and described the strangulation as causing her face to go white and lips blue, with her feeling she was losing consciousness.
Lynch was also handed a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim for five years and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life.
