OWEN ACKERS FROM BURTON SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL ASSAULTS IN BOURNEMOUTH

In a disturbing case that shocked the community, Owen Ackers, a 23-year-old resident of Lineside, Burton, was convicted of a violent assault that left his victims severely injured. The incident took place at his home address in Bournemouth, where Ackers inflicted grievous bodily harm on his mother, Diane Ackers, and his then-girlfriend, Sapphire Bassett, who was pregnant at the time.

According to court proceedings held at Bournemouth Crown Court in December 2020, Ackers had consumed vodka and cocaine on April 21, 2020, prior to the attack. The prosecution, led by Susan Cavender, detailed how Ackers’s substance abuse contributed to his violent outburst. She explained that Ackers accused Sapphire of infidelity, which appeared to escalate his already volatile state. His mother, Diane, became increasingly alarmed as Ackers’s behavior grew more aggressive. She attempted to intervene by hiding a bottle of vodka and trying to take another away from him, but this only seemed to provoke his rage.

Witnesses described Ackers’s outburst as terrifying, with the defendant behaving in a manner that was described as “like a complete and utter animal.” During the assault, Sapphire Bassett tried to pull Ackers away from Diane, but he responded violently. He turned on her, pulling her by her hair and forcing her to the ground. Ackers then proceeded to stamp repeatedly on her head, rendering her unconscious and leaving an imprint on her face. The court heard that Ackers also physically assaulted his mother, punching her and biting her between the eyes, which resulted in a significant facial injury.

In a victim impact statement, Sapphire Bassett, who was pregnant at the time and has since given birth without complications, expressed her emotional trauma. She stated, “You broke me and belittled me, I thought I was worthless. I was ready to be a family and no one but you ripped that away. One day I will get there and I will be happy again, you killed us, not me. Rio is my number one and always will be. He looks like a Bassett and always will be.”

Despite claiming remorse for his actions, Ackers’s attitude in court was dismissive. Judge Robert Pawson dismissed his supposed remorse after witnessing Ackers mouth obscenities to Ms Bassett from the dock. Ackers initially pleaded not guilty to causing GBH with intent but changed his plea after a jury was sworn in for his trial last month.

Sentencing, Judge Pawson imposed a total of eight and a half years in prison for the assault on his mother, just under six years for the attack on Ms Bassett, and an additional two months for breaching a restraining order. Ackers will also serve an 18-month license period. The sentences are to be served concurrently, meaning Ackers will spend a total of eight and a half years behind bars, marking a severe punishment for his violent actions in Bournemouth and Burton.