Man attacked vulnerable woman (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Man attacked vulnerable woman

10:45am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News

A MAN who attacked a ‘vulnerable’ young woman with mental health problems has been jailed for 18 months.

Paul Spencer, of Clarence House, West Bay , appeared at Dorchester Crown Court to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm after being convicted following a trial in June.

The 40-year-old had appeared in the dock alongside a 17-year-old youth during the trial but the younger defendant was acquitted of the same charge.

Spencer was found guilty of the attack on Rama Newhouse at her flat in South Street in Bridport in November 2010.

Judge Roger Jarvis said that he was sentencing Spencer on the basis that he had struck her to the face a number of times, knocking her to the floor.

During the trial the jury was told Miss Newhouse was also kicked by both defendants while she was on the floor but Judge Jarvis said that, in light of the jury’s verdicts, he could not take that into account as he sentenced Spencer.

He said: “I propose to sentence Mr Spencer on the basis that he dealt a violent blow to the victim when he was an unexpected third party.

Prosecutor Jennie Rickman said Miss Newhouse had been living in sheltered accommodation at the time of the attack and was suffering from borderline personality disorder and had been taking anti-depressant medication.