A violent drug addict became so paranoid he subjected a woman to a forced intimate search in an attempt to find hidden items.
James Sinden, 43 then prevented the woman from leaving his flat in Downland Crescent, Hove – later insisting on accompanying her on a bus, where she was able to raise the alarm.
The bus driver, David Arnold, was praised for keeping his cool and helping her escape Sinden’s clutches.
On Tuesday, Sinden was jailed for more than four years at Brighton Crown Court for assault by penetration and false imprisonment and an unrelated attempted burglary.
Sentencing, Judge Joshua Swirsky said both Sinden and the woman were heavy drink and drug users – and Sinden also lived with his drug dealer, who had given evidence against him.
He said: “On 8 November 2025, while you were under the influence of drink and drugs you decided to examine the woman’s vagina with your fingers, looking for items she might have secreted there – a sex toy or phone.
“This was the result of a paranoid delusion. Nobody would describe this as normal behaviour but it must have been extremely humiliating for the woman.
“The next day the woman wanted to go out. This was not a lengthy false imprisonment, but you wouldn’t let her leave.
“You accompanied her to the bus top when she got onto the bus she made an allegation which set in train events which led to us being here today.”
Judge Swirsky said Sinden had been behind bars since, and has been dealing with various agencies in a bid to rehabilitate.
He said: “This was unusual in that it was not committed for your sexual gratification but rather you delusion that she was hiding something about her person.
“It was a demonstration of your power over her at that point and must have been humiliating for her.”
The court heard the attempted burglary happened on 31 July, 2024 when Sinden and two others attempted to kick in a door in Hallet Road, but failed to gain entry.
Sinden was given four years for the assault by penetration, and one year for the false imprisonment to run concurrently.
He was also given a consecutive one month prison sentence for the attempted burglary and another month for breaching a community order he was subject to at the time of the assault.
A restraining order for ten years was also requested – Judge Swirsky said he was minded to grant one for seven years, but asked the prosecution to amend some of the details and he would consider it at a later date.
Prosecution counsel Andrew Frymann asked Judge Swirsky to consider a commendation for Mr Arnold, who was driving the 5B from Hangleton when Sinden and his victim boarded the bus at Court Farm Road.
Mr Frymann said: “The bus driver’s actions and demeanour in a potentially volatile situation went beyond dsprging his bus driving duties.
“Could a letter of commendation be written by the court?”
Judge Swirsky said he would consider it.
