Prison for man who chased woman into lift before "vicious" attack

Friday 16 June 2023

A man who chased a woman into a lift, punched her in the face and head and kicked her as she lay on the floor has been jailed for one year.

Dermot Hackett's attack, which was described as "sustained and vicious" in the Magistrate's Court, took place at the Royal Yacht in the early hours of 21 May.

The Magistrate's Court saw CCTV footage of the assault taking place.

It showed the victim hurrying into a lift and repeatedly pressing the button to close the door.

Hackett reached the lift before the door closed, forced his way in, punched her hard in the face and around the head, and then kicked her as she lay on the floor.

Pictured: The attack happened in the Royal Yacht Hotel.

The court was also shown photos of the victim’s injuries. She suffered bruises to her face and leg and to the back of her head, but declined medical treatment.

Advocate Katie Ridley, prosecuting, told the court that Hackett had a previous conviction for assault from 2010.

Hackett immediately admitted grave and criminal assault and Advocate Rui Tremoceiro, defending, said: "He was and is mortified by what he has done. He knows it was an inexcusable offence and could have no complaint if he is sentenced to imprisonment."

He said Hackett had been drinking since midday before the attack. However he added that the victim herself did not want Hackett to go to prison.

Hackett has two young sons, and Advocate Tremoceiro argued that his imprisonment would adversely affect his children.

He said: "He has no-one to blame but himself, but that does not diminish the pain his absence would cause in the minds of his young sons."

However Magistrate Bridget Shaw said the only appropriate sentence was prison.

She said: "This was a sustained and vicious assault which must have been terrifying. Were it not for the mitigation I have heard I would have sent this up to the Royal Court."

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