Man, 80, jailed for 'sadistic' violence against women dating back to 1990s

Vincent Agar, formerly from Middlesbrough, was extradited from Thailand last year to face justice following a six-year investigation by police.

He was jailed for 19 years at Durham Crown Court on Thursday, Cleveland Police said.

Agar’s involvement in historical violence was highlighted to officers investigating the murders of three young women from the Teesside area, under Operation Pandect.

They interviewed dozens of women who were potential witnesses and two of them came forward to say Agar had subjected them to extreme violence and imprisoned them within his house.

One victim was threatened and held against her will after she saw another woman tied to a radiator at his flat.

In separate incidents between 1998 and 2000, they were subjected to extreme violence which included being cut with knives, assaulted with a belt, hammer and bottle and being burnt with a kettle, iron and cigarettes.

They managed to escape the drug dealer’s flat, which was heavily secured.

Agar was found to be living on the Thai island of Koh Samui and was eventually extradited and charged with a series of offences including grievous bodily harm with intent, false imprisonment, actual bodily harm, threats to kill and supplying a class A drug.

He denied the charges but was convicted following a trial.

In a victim impact statement, one woman said she will be affected for the rest of her life.

Judge Richard Bennett told Agar: “Your offending has now caught up with you.”

Outside court, senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Peter Carr said: “This case is a demonstration that no matter how long the passage of time, we will take action against those who commit such horrendous criminal offences and we will not tolerate violence against women and girls.”