Eastbourne man who thrust shard of glass into woman’s stomach during violent rampage jailed

Connor Attridge assaulted three women and threatened people – including parents with their children – with the shard of glass in a violent rampage on January 13, according to Sussex Police.

Officers were called to Parkfield Avenue at about 2.41pm that day due to concerns about two women inside the property.

Attridge, who police said knew the women, had become angry and started attacking one of them, causing minor injuries to her head.

The incident carried over into the neighbouring property, where police said Attridge, 26, assaulted a third woman and smashed a mirror.

Armed with a shard of glass, he then chased the two women out onto the street. 
Sussex Police said he attacked the second woman by thrusting the glass at her stomach, and punching her twice in the head.

Fortunately, due to thick clothing, the glass shard did not cause her any serious injury, said police.

Attridge also used the shard of glass to threaten nearby members of the public, including parents on their way to pick their children up from a local primary school, police said.

He was arrested by officers at the scene and was found to be in possession of a white powder, which was later confirmed as cocaine, police said.

He was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital for treatment to a number of minor, self-inflicted wounds.

Attridge, unemployed, and of Hyde Gardens, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault following the incident.

He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage, threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place, and possession of a controlled Class A drug, when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, January 15.

Attridge appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday (February 12) for sentencing.

Police say his sentence added up to a total of two years in prison and includes:

• 20 months’ imprisonment for threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place

• Four months’ imprisonment for one charge of assault by beating, to run consecutively

• Four months’ imprisonment for one charge of assault by beating to run concurrently

• And four months’ imprisonment for one charge of assault by beating to run concurrently.

Attridge was given no separate penalty for the criminal damage or possession of a Class A drug, although an order was made for the destruction of all drugs seized from him.

He was ordered to pay a £149 victim surcharge and a restraining order was granted preventing him from contacting the two women known to him, and banning him from attending Parkfield Avenue for three years.