Sex attack "monster" Christian Tye branded "dangerous" by Sheffield judge
“You've cried because you've lost your power over a woman,” a courageous abuse survivor said of the “monster” who sobbed from the dock as he was jailed for horrific and degrading attacks on her.
Over the course of two attacks, Christian Tye violently sexually assaulted Sally* and savagely bit her breast, leaving her black and blue and in fear for her life.
When Sally told her attacker he was hurting her, he replied with: “You’ve got to feel the pain for it to be nice at the end.”
“He’s a monster,” said Sally.
“I felt so dirty and disgusting, degraded, angry, disappointed, everything.”
“I was like: ‘Oh, he's killing me. He's killing me’. How I managed to get him off me, to this day, I will never know.
“It was like a massacre."
As “dangerous” Tye was jailed for 11 years during a Sheffield Crown Court hearing, Judge David Dixon said it was of “concern” to the court that reports suggest he derives “sexual satisfaction from sexual violence or violence generally.”
Abuser shown “he’s not in charge anymore”
Sally says she found the strength not only to come forward and report Tye, but to also give evidence and to read her victim impact statement during his sentencing hearing, because she wanted to protect other women from him.
She also wanted to show twisted Tye, aged 48, that “he’s not in charge anymore.”
“I am not a strong character whatsoever, but I had to find the strength to stand there in that court and read out my impact statement and I saw him on the screen looking at me. And it was horrible. I felt sick the whole time,” said Sally, who is entitled to lifelong anonymity.
She continued: “I had to keep composing myself because I thought if I cry, he will think he's still winning and he's not going to win anymore.
“And he cried and I thought…yeah, you've cried because you've lost your power over a woman.”
“He is where he is, and I am here, and he can't hurt me ever again.”
Judge Dixon said he believed Tye to be a dangerous offender, and in order to protect the public, felt it necessary to impose an extended licence period of four years, bringing his total sentence to one of 15 years. He also told Tye he must remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
As Tye was being sentenced, Sally says she found herself hoping, and wishing, that she will be the last woman he is ever able to “hurt or get his dirty mitts on.”
Sally was stunned to learn of Tye’s criminal history, all of which was committed two decades ago, when it was laid bare during his sentencing hearing.
Judge Dixon told the court Tye’s pre-sentence report revealed he has a number of indecency convictions, relating to him exposing himself and committing lewd acts in front of people passing by, in one case and in front of a “more mature lady in her later years.”
“I was like oh my goodness my mouth dropped, my eyes popped out. Those poor, poor women,” said Sally.
“If my arms were long enough I'd hug every woman in the world who’s been through abuse.”
“I suspect you thought you might get away with this”
The ordeal Tye subjected Sally to did not end with the horrendous attacks, however, because she has also been burdened with the psychological impact of the trauma she endured at his hands.
The trauma was such that in the months after the attack, Sally could not imagine a future for herself and kept envisioning herself “in the morgue.”
She said: “The only place I envisioned myself was dead in the morgue.
“I just couldn't sleep. As soon as I closed my eyes all I could see was everything.
“And seeing myself dead. It was the trauma that caused that.
“I said to the police officer, I said to everyone: 'I feel like I'm the one that's doing the prison sentence, not him'."
Judge Dixon said of Tye’s offending against Sally: “The offences were horrible and I suspect you thought you might get away with this because of her vulnerabilities but the impact of what you have done has been read quite clearly by [Sally].
“Doubtless exaggerated and magnified by her own difficulties, she has very real problems now.”
Jurors convicted Tye, of no fixed abode, but formerly of Masbrough, Rotherham, of one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of assault by penetration.
Tye also has convictions for violence including a Section 18 assault offence, Judge Dixon told the court.
“I want women to see there is help, you can come forward, you will be protected”
Sally is now beginning to put her life back together in the wake of Tye’s conviction and sentencing hearing, which was held on December 12, 2025.
As she looks to her bright future, Sally says she chose to speak out about Tye’s “horrendous” offences against her because she wanted to show other abuse survivors that it is possible to get justice, and to get offenders like Tye taken off the streets.
She said: “I'm starting to feel a bit more myself now because knowing that he is actually locked away, away and he can't hurt me and I am believed and it's been proven.”
“I just want other women to see that by doing this it's protecting as many women as possible and like I said to you for any woman that's been through assault…Or anybody. That you know, you can go to the police.
“And it's like to show other women that actually yes you can get help. There is support.”
“I've done this and I've come forward to The Star because I feel this is really, really important. It's the last task on my list.”
“This is the final closure and it's like the PTSD, the trauma, the flashbacks, the nightmare, the trust issues, the crowds of men, and looking over my shoulder.
“That will never ever leave me. But what I do know is I have done this to hopefully protect as many women as possible.
“This is my purpose, like I'm not doing this for me. Justice has been served.
“He’s nowhere, he should be locked up for a very long time.
Sally describes her experience with the criminal justice system as an extremely positive one, and has praised all of the “lovely” professionals she came into contact with, from her investigating officer, Melissa Carroll, to Judge Dixon, even to the defence barrister, Clarkson Baptiste, who cross-examined her.
“Mr Baptiste was so lovely and he said, "Thank you." He said, "You've done really well" and normally because on the telly you see the defence getting really agitated but he was so lovely, so calm and even at the sentence hearing and he was so lovely,” said Sally.
She added: “I want women to read this and see that there's help, you can come forward, that you will be protected, you will be looked after, you will be supported, you will be believed, and you'll be protected.”
Abuse survivor praised for her “bravery, determination and strength”
The officer in charge of the case, Melissa Carroll, and Sarah Perkins, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire & Humberside, have both paid tribute to Sally for her “bravery,” “determination” and “strength.”
Ms Carroll said: “The victim has shown great strength and courage standing up to this prolific offender who took advantage of her kind and trusting nature.
“Despite the trauma she experienced she showed determination and bravery every step of the way and her kind and warm personality still shone through.
“I hope that her case is another example that will always be here to listen and support victims of sexual violence and do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice.”
“Christian Tye took advantage of his victim and abused the trust she placed in him, leaving her with significant trauma.
Ms Perkins added: “We worked closely with the police to build a compelling case against Mr Tye and I am delighted we were able to secure justice. This could not have been achieved without her bravery in coming forward - something I experienced first-hand when I met her ahead of trial.
“We were able to use special measures to help her give her best evidence and secure a successful conviction.
“Mr Tye’s conviction and sentence send a clear message...that the police and CPS will work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice where this is breached.
“I hope that the victim’s bravery will inspire others to report offences against them.”
*Not her real name.
Where to get support
*Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (SRASAC) provide specialist counselling to victim/survivors of sexual violence.
This is available via self-referral only. If you want to discuss your options you can call the Information and Support Line on 07517 100 757, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
*Rothacs provide counselling to children, young people and adults who have suffered a form of abuse at any time in their life. Including services for both women and men.
Call them on 0844 225 4411.