'Dangerous offender' - Littlehampton domestic abuser tried to evade arrest by climbing into River Arun
A domestic abuser from Littlehampton, who tried to evade arrest by climbing into the River Arun, has been jailed.
Sussex Police said Karl Foster ‘committed assaults, intentional strangulation, coercive control and stalking’.
“A domestic abuser who tried to evade police in Littlehampton has been sentenced,” a police statement read.
"The 48-year-old evaded police after appeals were issued to the public about his whereabouts.
“But following those appeals and due to the public's assistance, his whereabouts were established.
“When police attended a pub to detain him, Foster attempted to escape officers by climbing over a barrier into the River Arun at low tide. But he was arrested by officers in the mud and later charged with the offences.”
Police said Foster – of Horsham Road, Littlehampton – initially stood trial in May this year. He was accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, coercive control, stalking, intentional strangulation, and intentional suffocation, police said.
But Foster, of Horsham Road, Littlehampton, ‘changed his plea to guilty on the second day’, police said.
They added: “At Portsmouth Crown Court on October 29, he was jailed for a total of six years for the offences.
"The court also imposed a restraining order not to contact the victim which will last until any further order is made.
“The court was told how incidents between June 2025 and September 2025 included him headbutting her, choking her, trapping her in a bedroom, and then bombarding her with unwanted messages and abuse.”
Detective Constable Oscar Pennels said this was a ‘distressing case’, which ‘continues to have a traumatic impact for the victim’.
He added: “She has shown incredible courage to report incidents to the police.
“Foster went to great lengths to avoid being arrested, despite knowing he was wanted in connection with our investigation.
“Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for Sussex Police. We were determined to get justice in this case, and thanks to the victim for reporting her experience, and the strength of evidence against him, Foster had no choice but to plead guilty when presented with the evidence in court.
"He is dangerous offender who is now serving a significant custodial sentence.
“We continue to urge anyone affected by domestic abuse to report their experience to the police.”
Help and support for victims of domestic abuse and violence is available on the Safe:Space Sussex website and Sussex Police website.