2017: VICIOUS THUG WHO LEFT VICTIM WITH A ‘FLOATING FACE’ IN BEWDLEY ATTACK JAILED FOR 12 YEARS
A DANGEROUS rapist who beat a woman so badly he broke her face off her skull has been jailed.Anthony Laine was jailed for 12 years and must serve an extended period of eight years on licence following the brutal attack by the river Severn in Bewdley.
The 30-year-old former drug addict, who had been sleeping in a tent by the river between Stourport and Bewdley, was jailed at Worcester Crown Court on Friday for a string of offences, the most serious of which were grievous bodily harm with intent (section 18) and two rapes.
He also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and three common assaults.
A hotel worker in Kidderminster described the aftermath of the ABH as 'a bloodbath' with blood sprayed up the walls and on the mattress and door handle.
The grievous bodily harm took place by the river in Bewdley on August 10 last year.
The victim, who has no memory of the attack, was found lying unconscious in a pool of blood, regaining consciousness to identify the attacker when the ambulance arrived.
Timothy Sapwell, prosecuting, said the victim suffered a 10cm cut down the middle of her forehead, a v-shaped cut over her right eye and another over her left eye.
Both eyes were swollen shut and her eyelids had to be cut open to relieve pressure on her eyes.
A CT scan revealed serious underlying fractures to her face called ‘Le Fort Fractures’, one running above her teeth and upper jaw and another running from the bridge of her nose across the floor of the eye socket to the hinge of her jaw.
Her injuries required a nine and a half hour operation.
Bone grafts from other parts of the skull were used to repair her nose.
Metal plates and screws were put into her eye sockets, her cheek and jawbone.
She continues to suffer from double vision and infections following surgery which has meant plates have had to be removed and she faces a further 18 months of hospital visits, including operations.
In a recorded video interview the victim said: “It’s ruined my life.
I come across as a strong person.
I’m not really.
I’m looking at lots more operations, lots more time in hospital.
I’m in constant pain.
I can’t eat properly.
I have to eat soft food.
I can’t chew anything at all.
I can’t eat meat or even toast.
I can’t open my mouth to yawn.” The victim feels she is scared and unable to leave her house because she feels people are looking at her and has no feeling in her top lip.
She has spent time in hospitals including Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester.
Her nose was so badly broken medics struggled to administer an anaesthetic.
She added: “I’m still alive, that’s the only thing.
I’m fed up with the pain.
That’s what gets me down more than anything.” She expressed her fear of the attacker: "Words can't express how scared I am." Laine, who was seen by a witness running from the scene and sustained injuries to his hands in the attack, claimed in interview he had 'only punched her four or five times'.
Simon Rippon, defending, said his client was 'sorry' but added: "It doesn't seem enough, does it?
He understands and appreciates the great harm he has done to her.
He is, in my respectful submission, remorseful.
There is some scope for him to be law abiding, when he's not in drink." He said although the case had gone to trial his client had admitted guilt on the second day, sparing the GBH victim 'the trauma and stress of giving evidence'.
The offences occurred at various locations including Worcester, Kidderminster and Bewdley between July 5 and August 10 last year.
One attack showed him punching a victim at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on a camera near A&E.
Laine has a previous conviction for a section 20 grievous bodily harm when he glassed his father in 2008, for which he was jailed for 21 months, and a caution for battery.
His honour Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC stated: "There is a significant risk of the defendant causing serious harm to members of the public, particularly women." An indefinite sexual harm prevention order was also issued, along with a restraining order preventing Laine from contacting the GBH victim.
He is also required to sign the sex offender's register.
Three further rape charges will remain on file.
Detective Constable Nicola Nevin praised the victim’s courage and emphasized that the attack was unprovoked and extremely violent, leaving her with serious long-term injuries.
The severity of the case has been reflected in the sentencing, reinforcing police seriousness in investigating such offences.
