Owen Alan Ackers, 23 and of Lineside in Burton, pleaded guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday 17 November 2020 to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He was sentenced at the same court on Monday 21 December 2020.

He received an eight-and-a-half year jail term, and was made subject to an extended licence period of a further 18 months.

During the afternoon of Tuesday 21 April 2020 Ackers was socialising and drinking at his home address with two women, one aged in her 20s and another aged in her 40s, who were both known to him. The defendant also took cocaine.

An altercation occurred and Ackers began to repeatedly punch one of the women to the left side of her face. The defendant carried out a sustained assault, punching her repeatedly with full force. The victim managed to call 999 from her mobile phone.

The second woman intervened and tried to pull Ackers away from the victim, before he began to assault her as well, causing her to become unconscious.

While she was unconscious on the floor, the other woman tried to pull the defendant away, but he bit her face near to her nose and forehead between her eyebrows.

Following the sustained assaults, Ackers fled the address. Officers attended to carry out enquiries at the scene, as well as a search of the area to locate the defendant.

Ackers was located a short time later hidden in a bush and arrested in connection with the incident.

The woman who was bitten by Ackers sustained life-changing injuries to her face that required surgery. She also sustained a laceration to her cheek, tenderness to her forearm and wrists, as well as a dislocated finger.

The woman who was knocked unconscious sustained a head injury and bruising to her face, upper chest and left shin.

Detective Constable Leila Whittle, of Bournemouth CID, said: “This was a truly horrific and terrifying incident for the two women who were both subjected to unrelenting and brutal assaults by Ackers.

“I would like to take this opportunity to reach out to anyone suffering from domestic abuse during the festive period and reassure you that we are here for you and will investigate any report made to us.”

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, or if you know someone who is, there are many organisations that can help. Call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on: 0808 2000 247 or visit: www.dorsetforyou.com/dvahelp.