Ryan Lancaster launched a brutal attack on the homeless woman punching and kicking her in the head
A man launched a sustained and brutal attack on a homeless woman as she lay sleeping on the steps of a church. Ryan Lancaster, 23, who was the victim’s on-off partner, launched the brutal attack earlier this year.
Preston Crown Court heard how staff at the Foxton Centre, a homeless support centre in Preston, noticed bruising and swelling to the woman’s face when she visited for a shower on June 18.
They asked what had happened and she said she had been assaulted. She went on to detail Lancaster, who was under the influence of drugs, had kicked her between her legs, then punched and kicked her head.
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She suffered swelling to her head and face and appeared to be in discomfort when she sat down. Her facial injuries were photographed and ambulance staff were called, but when paramedics tried to speak to her, the woman left the centre.
Medics said they suspected she had a fractured eye socket however as the victim did not attend hospital her injuries were not confirmed, and Lancaster could only be charged with attempted GBH. Officers checked CCTV and found the attack had been captured on camera.
The footage showed Lancaster ‘cornering’ the woman and ‘ragging her about’. He assaulted her a number of times over a 25 minute period, repeatedly walking away before returning to continue the attack.
The court heard that at one point, the woman was seen holding a white duvet cover, which was previously unmarked. It was covered in blood. The attack ended with Lancaster handing the woman a can of drink, reports LancsLive.
The court heard at the time of the attack on the church steps in Lune Street, Preston, Lancaster was on a community order for assaulting the same victim. Police had been informed the woman was injured and went to speak to her. She told them Lancaster had been assaulting her for eight weeks and said if he couldn’t have her he would slit her throat.
Following his arrest, on June 20, Lancaster was remanded in custody and later pleaded guilty to attempted GBH. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage after he broke a door at the Foxton Centre with a brick, two days before the attack.
The court heard he had a difficult upbringing and psychiatric conditions. While on remand he has been on the recovery wing and has had time to reflect. He wrote a letter to the court expressing his remorse and disgust at his behaviour.
Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi, sentencing, said: “Your victim was on the floor crying but you stand over her. The footage lasts 25 minutes. That assault occurred over a 25 minute period. You don’t need me to tell you how terrifying that must have been for her.
“You were out of control. You behaved like a caged animal. This was a violent, persistent assault where you repeatedly returned and although I accept you have a mental disorder that causes you to act impulsively, this is not a short lived assault.
“You are 23 years old and your behaviour over the last 12 months is very concerning but you have no convictions before that. I take into account the psychiatric report and very difficult personal circumstances.” She jailed Lancaster for 36 months for attempted GBH with a month to run concurrently for criminal damage to the Foxton Centre.
