Jake Clark, 29, of Portway, Chippenham, has been sentenced to 38 months in prison after violently assaulting a woman he met on Tinder. The Swindon Crown Court handed down the sentence on Friday, December 5, following charges of actual bodily harm and false imprisonment.
The incident unfolded on March 7 when Wiltshire Police responded to a call around 9 a.m. about a woman with facial injuries seeking help from neighbors. The woman, in her 30s, had connected with Clark via the dating app and met him the day before. Clark exploited the trust she placed in him by withdrawing hundreds of pounds from her bank account using her card.
That night, Clark became aggressive—punching and headbutting her repeatedly, injuring her eye socket. He also locked her inside his home to prevent her from escaping and smashed her phone to cut off communication.
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A passerby spotted the victim trying to get help from inside the property and alerted authorities, who intervened before further harm occurred.
Detective Constable Daniel Jackson of central CID commented, “Clark is a violent man who preyed on his victim’s desire for companionship, turning what should have been a chance for connection into a nightmare. Despite her physical injuries healing, the emotional impact leaves her anxious and fearful.”
He added, “Clark’s actions, including barricading her inside the property, were designed to isolate and intimidate. We are grateful that a member of the public recognized the situation and called the police promptly.”
Wiltshire Police emphasized their firm stance against violence targeting women and girls, particularly in the context of online dating, warning users to exercise caution and keep friends or family informed of their whereabouts.
In addition to his prison sentence, Clark has been issued a restraining order lasting five years and nine months to protect his victim from further contact.