A violent thug who tortured his partner for hours – including dunking her head in sewage water and defecating on her face while she lay unconscious – has been jailed for over 15 years.
Beast jailed for horrific assault
Liam Dawson, 34, was handed a 15-year, three-month sentence with a four-year extended licence after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent at
Stafford Crown Court. The chilling courtroom scene saw Dawson vaping and smirking while his victim bravely gave emotional evidence via video link from HMP Dovegate.
Victim recounts nightmare ordeal
The mother-of-three described the attack as “inhumane” and credited a stranger who heard her screams with saving her life. She said,
“What I went through that night I wouldn’t wish on anyone. My physical injuries are minor compared to my mental health. I have nightmares on a nightly basis.”
Nightmare ride turns deadly
Detectives revealed that Dawson’s rampage began after heavy drinking during an evening out at a Holiday Inn. He drove erratically, swerving violently, crashing into a metal fence near a park, before dragging the woman from the car by her hair and bludgeoning her head 15-20 times.
- He slammed the car door on her face
- Threw her phone into a nearby brook
- Held her head under sewage water, threatening to kill her
- After she passed out, he defecated on her face
Neighbours who heard the woman’s terrified screams called police, ending the hours-long attack.
Justice served – but scars remain
In a powerful victim impact statement, she said:
“The only reason I am here today is that a stranger heard my screams. That stranger saved my life. It breaks my heart that my daughter had to see me like that in the hospital. I was humiliated in an inhumane way. I was defecated on.”
Dawson’s brutal history includes 16 prior convictions and a breach of a suspended sentence. The court slapped him with an indefinite restraining order banning any contact with the victim.
Detective Constable Lauren Ashby praised the woman’s “tremendous strength and dignity” through the trial and thanked the public for stepping in to stop a fatal outcome. She warned:
“We will not tolerate violence against women and girls. We hope this sentence encourages other victims of domestic abuse to come forward. You will be listened to and supported as we seek justice.”
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