David Gordon Howse

A man from Eastleigh has been imprisoned for seven years following a guilty plea to rape at Southampton Crown Court. David Gordon Howse, aged 33, of The Quadrangle, carried out the attack on a 24-year-old woman in the early hours of January 9, 2019.

The incident occurred between 11.30pm on January 8, 2019, and the early hours of the following day. The victim was walking across a car park area between Beaulieu Road and Selbourne Drive in Eastleigh when Howse approached her. He followed her into an alleyway in Whyteways, where he raped her. The attack was described by Detective Inspector Gareth Jones of Hampshire Constabulary’s Amberstone team as "truly harrowing".

Howse was arrested in late December 2019 and charged with the rape in July 2020. At the sentencing hearing today at Southampton Crown Court, Judge [name not specified] imposed a seven-year custodial sentence on Howse. In addition, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring to protect the public.

Detective Inspector Jones paid tribute to the victim's courage, stating: "I would like to pay tribute to the victim for the courage that she has shown throughout the investigation; we understand it is not always easy for victims to have to re-live an already terrifying ordeal." He emphasised Hampshire Constabulary's commitment to justice, adding: "Hampshire Constabulary is dedicated to getting justice for victims and ensuring Eastleigh is a safe place to live. I hope this sentence today goes someway to giving the woman closure and reassures her, and the communities in Hampshire, that justice has been served."

The case was reported by the Daily Echo, with court reporting by Timothy Edgley. Hampshire Constabulary provided details on the investigation and arrest. This sentencing underscores the serious nature of sexual offences and the legal system's response to such crimes in the region.