‘Animal’ attacked woman as she slept on church steps

Ryan Lancaster launched a brutal attack on the homeless woman, punching and kicking her in the head

A man launched a sustained and brutal attack on a homeless woman as she slept on the steps of a church. Ryan Lancaster, 23, the victim’s partner, launched the brutal attack earlier this year.

Preston Crown Court heard how staff at the Foxton Centre, a homeless support center in Preston, noticed bruising and swelling on the woman’s face when she came to shower on June 18.

They asked what happened and she said she had been attacked. She went on to say that Lancaster, who was under the influence of drugs, kicked her between the legs and then punched and kicked her in the head.

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She had swelling in her head and face and seemed uncomfortable when she sat down. Her facial injuries were photographed and paramedics were called, but when paramedics tried to speak to her, the woman left the centre.

Doctors said they suspected she had a fractured eye socket, but because the victim did not attend hospital her injuries were not confirmed and Lancaster could only be charged with attempted GBH. Officers checked CCTV footage and discovered the attack had been caught on camera.

The footage showed Lancaster ‘cornering’ the woman and ‘driving her around’. He attacked her a number of times over a 25-minute period, repeatedly walking away before returning to continue the attack.

The court heard that at one point the woman was seen wearing a white duvet cover, which had previously gone unnoticed. It was covered in blood. The attack ended when Lancaster handed the woman a can of drink. reports LancsLive.

The court heard at the time of the attack on the church steps in Lune Street, Preston, Lancaster had been given a community order for assaulting the same victim. Police heard that the woman was injured and went to talk to her. She told them that Lancaster had been attacking her for eight weeks and said if he couldn’t have her he would slit her throat.

Following his arrest on June 20, Lancaster was taken into custody and later pleaded guilty to attempted GBH. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage after smashing a door at the Foxton Center with a brick two days before the attack.

The court found that he had a difficult upbringing and psychiatric disorders. During his pre-trial detention he was in the recovery department and had time to think. He wrote a letter to the court expressing his remorse and disgust at his behavior.

Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi, who imposed the sentence, said: “Your victim was lying on the ground crying, but you are standing over her. The footage lasts 25 minutes. That attack took place over a period of 25 minutes. You do not have to tell me I can’t tell you how terrifying that must be.” been for her.

“You lost control. You acted like a caged animal. This was a violent, sustained attack with repeated recurrences and whilst I accept that you have a mental disorder that causes you to act impulsively, this is not a momentary attack.

“You are 23 years old and your behavior over the past twelve months is very worrying, but you have had no previous convictions. I take into account the psychiatric report and the very difficult personal circumstances.” She jailed Lancaster for 36 months for attempted GBH, concurrently serving a month for criminal damage at the Foxton Centre.