A man has been sentenced to more than four years in prison after the victim alerted a bus driver to his domestic abuse offending.

At Brighton Crown Court on Tuesday, 6 October, James Sinden, 43, was jailed for four years for assault by penetration and one year for false imprisonment to run concurrently.

Sinden, of no fixed address, was also sentenced to an additional month in prison for a previous suspended sentence for attempted burglary, and two months for assault from a community order which was breached.

A seven-year restraining order was also put in place.

The circumstances around his arrest are that on Sunday, 9 November, 2025, Sinden’s distressed victim boarded a bus in Hove with the accused and whispered to the driver that she was experiencing domestic abuse.

The driver removed Sinden from the bus, drove further along the route to ensure Sinden was separated from the victim, and called police.

Detective Sergeant Rod Davis said: “We commend the bravery of Sinden’s victim for having the courage to alert the bus driver to the horrific abuse she was suffering, which subsequently led to Sinden’s arrest.

“The bus driver was given a court commendation for his part in bringing Sinden to justice and ensuring the victim was safe on that night in November last year.

“We want to assure anyone who is undergoing domestic abuse that you will be listened to, believed and supported.”

Advice about domestic abuse | Sussex Police