Ruth Taylor
Grievous Bodily Harm *
Sentence
20 months imprisonment
Ruth Taylor attacked her friend, who had allowed her to stay at his home in Sunderland, on two occasions. On December 17, 2023, she punched him in the face, bursting his lip, after he told her she was not welcome back. On January 5, 2024, around 11pm, she launched a brutal assault, stamping on his head, face, and ear repeatedly until she feared she had killed him, leaving him unconscious and covered in blood. She had consumed half a bottle of vodka that day. The victim suffered multiple abrasions and bruises to his face, bruising inside his cheek, swelling to his eyelids, bruising to both eyes which he couldn't open, burst blood vessels in both eyes, extensive swelling to his ear with the canal swollen shut, and 70% of the skin on the outer ear cartilage removed. Taylor called an ambulance using a false name, claiming he had slipped, and later threatened to slit his throat while ignoring paramedics. Blood was found throughout the flat, including on walls, floors, and a frying pan.
Pleaded guilty to GBH and battery. Has 123 previous convictions including for violence. Given a ten-year restraining order. Defence noted difficult childhood, history of domestic violence, and drug misuse issues.