Ashley Ellison

Ashley Ellison, aged 35 and formerly of Stannington, Sheffield, carried out a violent assault on a woman named Evie, involving both physical harm and sexual assault. The attack occurred in Sheffield and was described in court as indicative of a misogynistic and entitled attitude. During the incident, Ellison threatened to murder Evie despite her repeated refusals, only stopping when neighbours intervened after hearing the threats.

The assault led to Ellison's arrest and subsequent trial at Sheffield Crown Court. On 12 March 2025, he admitted to a string of offences including sexual assault and actual bodily harm. Judge Peter Hampton sentenced him to 34 months' custody, stating that 'only a custodial sentence can be justified' due to Ellison's previous breaches of court orders, such as restraining orders, and noting there was 'no realistic prospect of rehabilitation'. The judge highlighted Ellison's 'high risk of re-offending' and described his behaviour as stemming from a misogynistic mindset.

Ellison's criminal history includes 13 previous offences, among them three counts of battery and one of assault by beating. Three years prior, in March 2022, he had been arrested in connection with the death of his girlfriend but was released without charge, an event referenced during sentencing. His barrister, Amy Earnshaw, mitigated by suggesting alcohol was a trigger for his offending and that he had been self-medicating with alcohol and cannabis following a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder after his partner's death. However, the court deemed these factors insufficient to avoid imprisonment.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Ellison was ordered to remain on the sex offenders' register for seven years, until March 2032, and subjected to a seven-year restraining order prohibiting contact with Evie, who has lifelong anonymity. After serving nine months, Ellison was due for release on 30 December 2025, remaining on licence with strict probation supervision. South Yorkshire Police's Management of Sexual or Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) unit and Violent and Sexual Offenders' Register (ViSOR) teams were involved in monitoring him post-release to mitigate risks, particularly under their Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategies.

Evie expressed profound fears about Ellison's release, stating, 'I feel like Ashley will attack someone when he gets out because he’s proven he has no intention of changing over the years. He preys on vulnerable women and doesn’t see any wrongdoing in his actions.' The ordeal forced her to relocate, lose most possessions, and suffer severe mental health impacts, including self-harm and a suicide attempt. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson described the crime as 'appalling' and confirmed ongoing supervision to prevent breaches.