A bodybuilder has been jailed for nine years after attempting to gouge his girlfriend’s eyes out.
35-year-old bricklayer Danny Bridges, of Whitstable, Kent, attacked his girlfriend on Thursday, November 1, 2018, because she had ‘liked’ another person’s social media post.
The court heard Bridges had punched, kneed and strangled the young woman, before jamming his thumbs into her eyes in an attempt to gouge them out. The second of two reported assaults, the first in April 2018, and the second which saw Bridges try to gouge his partner’s eyes out in November of that year.
Bridges’ girlfriend was left with black eyes following the attack, and reportedly believed her ‘eyes were going to pop out altogether’.
A spokesman said, as per Metro:
Liking a social media post was the catalyst for Daniel Bridges to carry out an assault on a woman in Whitstable.
He punched her in the face and legs and then strangled her. Following the assault he then made the woman take him to his flat where he told her she couldn’t leave due to her visible facial injuries.
The victim text her friend for help who called Kent Police and officers arrived at the property. Bridges refused to answer the door so officers forced their way in.
Bridges proceeded to imprison the unnamed woman to stop friends and family members noticing her facial bruising. She was able to text a friend for help while imprisoned, begging them to call 999.
After storming Bridges’ flat, officers found his girlfriend in a bedroom with serious bruising to her face. Bridges was arrested and charged with false imprisonment and two counts of assault.
Bridges denied the offences. He told police his girlfriend had ‘fallen over’ and continued to protest his innocence throughout proceedings. Bridges was found guilty at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday, May 2, and was jailed on Monday, June 25.
As reported by Metro, Bridges was sentenced to nine years in prison, with three to be served on extended licence.
Handing down the sentence at Canterbury Crown Court on June 24, Judge Rupert Lowe noted Bridges had smiled as his offences were read out:
I note for the record that you smile as I recount these facts. She thought her eyes were going to pop out altogether. She was so frightened she thought she was going to die.
You are just another violent abuser of women. You have not shown any sympathy or empathy to those closest to you. You are selfish, angry and violent.
I have no hesitation in finding that you pose a significant risk of harm to future partners. It is impossible to tell if you are lying or living in an alternative reality.
Investigating officer, PC Morgan Fitzpatrick, gave the following statement:
I hope this sentence sends a strong message to perpetrators that violent crime will not be tolerated.
Victims should never suffer in silence and we would always encourage anyone who is treated this way to come forward and report this to us.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues, and want to speak to someone in confidence contact the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247. Do not suffer in silence.
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.