A man has pleaded guilty after two women and a teenage girl sustained serious injuries during two violent attacks in Bournemouth.
Mark Robert Williams, 37 and of Cecil Road in Bournemouth, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday 29 March 2021 and admitted two counts of attempted murder, two counts of false imprisonment, committing grievous bodily harm with intent and sexual assault by penetration.
He will be sentenced at the same court on Friday 7 May 2021.
At 8.08pm on Thursday 18 February 2021 Dorset Police received a report of a stabbing at an address in Maxwell Road.
Officers attended and located a woman aged in her 40s with a cut to her throat and abdomen, as well as a puncture wound to her thigh. A teenage girl who was also present at the address had a cut across her cheek.
One of the victims told officers at the scene that a man – who was later identified as Williams – had attended the address and attacked them, tied them up, gagged them and threatened to kill them.
During the incident, the teenage girl was sexually assaulted by Williams.
The woman was flown to hospital by air ambulance in a life-threatening condition and the girl was taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries.
Williams was known to the woman aged in her 40s.
At 11.59pm on the same day officers were called to reports of a woman screaming in Vale Road. The victim – a woman aged in her 30s – was found with a laceration to her throat. She was flown by air ambulance to hospital and required surgery due to the severity of her injuries.
Officers carried out extensive searches of the area in a bid to locate the offender. At around 1.30am on Friday 19 February 2021 they noticed Williams acting strangely on Old Christchurch Road.
When officers approached Williams, who was covered in blood, he immediately told them he was the man that they were looking for. He was arrested in connection with the incidents in Maxwell Road and Vale Road.
An investigation was launched by detectives from Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT).
During police interview, Williams confirmed that he had attacked three female victims at two locations and confirmed that he had committed serious offences.
Detective Inspector Wayne Seymour, of MCIT, said: “These were nasty and extremely horrific incidents that left two women severely injured in a life-threatening condition and a teenage girl sustained serious injuries to her face.
“I am grateful to the officers at the scene who located Williams and arrested him, preventing anyone else from being subjected to his violent behaviour. I am also appreciative of all the efforts of the officers and police staff who were involved in the investigation and helped to bring Williams before the court.
“I would like to praise all three victims for the courage they have shown following such a terrifying and distressing ordeal. My thoughts go out to them as they come to terms with the aftermath of these horrible assaults and I hope they can now begin to move forward with their lives.
“Dorset Police takes every report of violence and sexual assault seriously and we are here to help and support victims. It is completely unacceptable for women and girls to be attacked and I would like to reassure the public that we will investigate all reports as a priority and do everything we can, working with partners across the criminal justice system, to bring dangerous offenders like Williams to justice.”
Dorset Police had prior contact with one of the victims and with Williams. The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The IOPC will conduct an independent investigation and we will co-operate with them fully throughout this process.
PLEASE SUPPORT US FOR JUST £2 A MONTH
