Law enforcement has commended the bravery and resilience of a woman who was attacked by a stranger, Benjamin Guiver, in her residence, as the ‘violent and dangerous’ perpetrator is sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The victim, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, had considerable bodily injuries during the assault and is still coping with the persistent emotional and psychological repercussions of the event.
Dyfed-Powys Police officers have also acknowledged a family member who returned home during the assault and incurred injuries while courageously intervening.
Swansea Crown Court was informed that officers were summoned to a location in Goodwick shortly before 10:30 PM on May 24, 2024. The caller, a family member of the victim, reported that she was drenched in blood and indicated that the perpetrator, Benjamin Guiver, was attempting to flee the residence.
Officers promptly arrived and discovered the victim within the residence, exhibiting noticeable facial injuries.
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Briggs stated: “She was evidently severely injured and profoundly distressed; however, at that moment, we were unaware of the full extent of the ordeal she had endured.”
“Our focus was on prioritising her care with the help of paramedics, and getting officers out on the street to find the suspect.
“Shortly after officers arrived at scene, a man by the name of Benjamin Guiver was arrested not far from the house.”
The victim revealed in interview that she didn’t think she would survive the assault, but that two family members returned home and disturbed the attacker.
She explained that she had fallen asleep while watching TV, and woke to find a man in her living room. He said his name was Benjamin and that he had come ‘to rescue her’. When the victim asked who he was, he replied ‘don’t ask any questions or I’ll kill you’.
The victim managed to escape the address and run out onto the drive, shouting for help. She was followed by the suspect, Benjamin Guiver, who assaulted her outside and threatened to kill her before continuing the sustained attack inside the address.
The victim lost several teeth and sustained significant bruising to her body.
It was later established by police that the 34-year-old, Benjamin Guiver, of Fishguard, had attempted to enter another house in close proximity to the victim’s home a short while earlier.
Following substantial enquiries by the police, Benjamin Guiver was charged with the following six offences on May 26: Sexual Assault by penetration; Section 18 GBH with intent; Intentional strangulation; Trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence; Threats to kill; Assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Due to the weight of evidence against him, Benjamin Guiver pleaded guilty to all six charges when he appeared at court on July 10.
In a statement written by the victim, she described herself as “a shell of her former self” following the incident, constantly feeling “lost, unsafe and on edge”.
She wrote: “I feel as though my life has been turned upside down. I no longer feel safe in my own home which is a feeling I have never experienced before.
“I’ve always been confident and independent, however, that has now been viciously ripped away from me.
“I want so desperately to go back to some kind of normality with my life, however, I know that what has happened is going to continue to haunt me for the rest of my life.”
Described as a ‘violent and dangerous offender’ by the judge, Benjamin Guiver was sentenced to 20 years in prison at Swansea Crown court on Thursday, October 31, 2024.
Following sentencing, DCI Briggs said: “The victim in this case has shown immense courage throughout the investigation, and I commend her for that.
“Suffering such an attack in your own home is unimaginable, and – as she detailed in her statement – has impacted every aspect of her life.
“Despite this, she has demonstrated her strength of character every step of the way and worked alongside officers to ensure justice prevailed.
“I would also like to highlight the actions of her relative who intervened during the assault, putting their own safety at risk to ensure further harm was not caused.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.