Masked predator jailed 23 years after breaking into family home and standing over 13-year-old girl's bed with cable ties and duct tape

Published 15 October 2026, 15:50

• Christopher Buxey, 43, from Gosport, wore a balaclava and latex gloves during the terrifying 3am break-in
• Hammer, duct tape and ten pre-looped cable ties were found in the girl's bedroom — her screams woke her parents
• 'The likely lasting impact on these children and their families due to the trauma inflicted by Buxey cannot be understated,' said Detective Superintendent Colin Garman

A masked man armed with cable ties, duct tape, and a hammer who broke into a family home and stood over a 13-year-old girl's bed in the middle of the night has been jailed for 23 years.

43-year-old Gosport man, Christopher Buxey, of Privett Place, received an 18-year prison sentence plus a further five years on licence at Portsmouth Crown Court on October 15, after committing a series of offences across two counties.

In the early hours of June 4, Buxey broke into a ground-floor entrance of a family home in Rogate, Sussex, belonging to people he knew, according to the Sussex Police report.

He made his way to the bedroom of a 13-year-old girl, where he stood over her bed dressed entirely in black, wearing a balaclava to conceal his face and black latex gloves on his hands.

Buxey was holding pre-looped cable ties when the girl woke to find him standing over her.

He also had ten further prepared ties attached to a carabiner clipped to his belt — indicating he had come prepared to restrain a victim.

The girl's screams brought her parents running, who arrived at her room to discover her on the bed, fighting off the masked intruder with her feet.

They immediately called police.

Officers recovered a roll of duct tape, a torch Buxey had left on the floor beside the girl's bed, and a multitool with a hammer that had been placed on her pillow.

The Sussex Police report noted that the room also contained a rucksack of Buxey's, which held similar items.

Buxey attempted to flee, assaulting the girl's parents in the process.

The parents physically restrained him until officers arrived, during which time Buxey identified himself to the family.

At Portsmouth Crown Court on July 6, Buxey entered guilty pleas to trespass with intent to commit a relevant sexual offence and actual bodily harm.

He initially pleaded not guilty to attempted kidnap but admitted the lesser charge of attempted false imprisonment, which the court accepted.

At the same hearing, Buxey also pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 by penetration, two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, and three counts of making indecent photographs of a child — all connected to a separate investigation in Hampshire.

Detective Superintendent Colin Garman said: "Buxey perpetrated immensely distressing ordeals on the victims and their families."

"I am pleased to see today's sentencing reflect the severity of the offences committed, however the likely lasting impact on these children and their families due to the trauma inflicted by Buxey cannot be understated," Garman added.