‘I thought I would never see my children again’
Saturday 2nd May 2009, 2:30PM BST.
A LATVIAN woman told police she thought she was going to die after a sustained and unprovoked attack by man she did not know.
The Royal Court yesterday heard how the 30-year-old suffered bruising and swelling to her eyes, general cuts and abrasions and lost two teeth after Jason Ryder, 24, repeatedly punched her.
Ryder was jailed for six years after he admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm. On release, Ryder will be supervised for five years and returned to jail if he breaches the imposed conditions.
‘This was… a despicable and cowardly attack on a lone woman,’ Judge Russell Finch told the defendant.
‘You are a danger to the public, particularly women, and we have a duty to protect the public and record our disgust.’
The probation report noted that the consequences could have been worse had the attack not been interrupted by a passing taxi. Judge Finch was concerned that Ryder had been served in some bars in Town when he was so drunk others had refused him.
The victim told police she sensed a person behind her and a hand was clenched in front her mouth. She was pushed to the ground and punched.
‘I felt a bite in my head. Then he punched me and then again. I received at least 10 fist punches to my face. I felt like I was dying and would never see my children again,’ she told them.
Advocate Chris Green, defending, said none of Ryder’s previous offences had been for violence and it had not been a racist attack.
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“Advocate Chris Green, defending, said none of Ryder’s previous offences had been for violence and it had not been a racist attack.”… What a stupid thing to say ,does Mr Green think that he should be shown some degree of sympathy for that ?. This cowardly Ryder chap deserves his long prison sentence.I just hope he serves all of it.
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What was the relevance in pointing out this woman’s nationality?
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What is wrong with these people?
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Jackie
There would be a lot of relevance if the “Ireland/island” mis-hear was in connected to “get off our island” or somesuch.
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This innocent lady of Latvian background is now mentally scarred for life, perhaps physically scarred too. And the perp gets only six years in jail !!!! What on earth is the matter with todays courts and judges? Such an idiot should have been jailed for 60 years, not six. And even then, throw away the key.
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Come on! 60 years for asault?! you wouldn’t even get that for murder so be a bit more realistic!
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Sorry Arnald, you lost me.
Happy to see the judicial system gave this hideous individual a hefty sentence. As for the advocates mitigation, you do have to wonder how they can sleep at night.
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a shame he didn’t have a lump of pot in his pocket then his sentence would have been longer. it’s awful that this is what brings it up but at least a judge has noticed how people manage to get so drunk they don’t know what’s going on , they must have been served illegally as they were slaughtered. fine the pubs that let people get into such states, ‘sorry mate/miss you’ve had enough’ why doesn’t this happen? and for violence, drunken or not the punishments should be much more severe. i loathe many things others do but manage to stop myself attacking them.cowardly swines all of them
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Good point nikkers. Often the case is that the police have to deal with the fall out of people being plied alcohol by an irresponsible liquor trade.
I thought it was illegal to serve people who were drunk. Police turn a blind eye to this law a woman gets beaten up.
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expat80 – I agree the assault was terrible however I disagree with your thoughts on the sentence. A six year term sends a strong message what our community thinks about unprovoked violence. Also please bear in mind that even after he is released he will be subject to supervision for an additional 5 years where if he steps out of line he will be straight back inside. Not to mention that even after his release he will find it very difficult to find employment. Make no mistake, the consequences of his actiosn will be with him for considerably longer than his jail term.
While on the subject I also think that in addition to his sentence, restorative justice should be used in this case, where the man in question meets with victims of similar assaults who are willing to share with him the often hidden consequences of their criminal actions.
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Paul Le P – I completely agree with everything you have said except – Do you really think he is going to care if he cant get a job… what an excuse to be on benefits for the rest of his life…
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PAUL LE P. I have now calmed down and I agree for the most part with your reasoning. I am a retired man in my seventies and quite honestly became so angry when I read what had been done to this Lady that my comment on the 60 year sentence poured out of me and to some extent I still stand by it. Restorative justice can be of some value in such cases, but often the perp just does not give a damn about any other human being and his nature will persist throughout his life no matter what. Sorry to sound so mercenary but the level of violence and disregard for other human beings in todays world needs strong measures to try and bring us back to the pleasant society that we once were.
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Not so sure about the Meet the Victims bit Paul. Speaking as a woman it’s not like this man is a silly teenager who stole my boys’ bicycles from the front garden. This was a random, extremely violent attack on a lone woman.
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This is a horrible story, and I can relate to expat80 in immediately being horrified and wanting a life sentence etc. We do have to remember how long 6 years actually is, sentences never seem that long when read but the reality is different.
I also agree that perhaps in these cases the police could find out which bars served him and give them a strong warning. Being intoxicated is however, no excuse for his actions. He must have some deep routed problems I am sure, and having known him at school I think this could be the case.
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I went to school with this pathetic excuse of a “man” more like boy! And to be honest while reading the artical i was nearly in tears, how scary for that poor woman and her friend that was on the phone to her. He is disgusting, i think that people like that deserve nothing but a heavy prison sentence and a good kick up the backside. My how proud his parents must be! I very much doubt it!
It makes me sick to think that anyone male or female cant walk the streets at night without some “hero” wanting to cause someone harm.
I’m a young woman, grew up in a 1 parent family, I have a full time job, never claimed benefits, no children and i own my house, personally i think i’v turned out alright, so where did he go wrong? Who knows!
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Expat80 and Dean.
No intention to set the heart rate racing again but in giving this moron 6 years the Court was fully aware that he will serve less than half this sentence.
Bring in the American system whereby someone who is given 5 to 10 years knows he will serve 5 years minimum if he behaves in Prison or up to the full ten years if he doesn’t behave.
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In view of the number of crimes fuelled by alcohol, is there a case for making the cost much higher by increasing the tax on alcoholic drinks along the lines of that proposed in UK? The idea is to have a minimum price per unit which will have a heavier impact on the stronger brands of beer and lager which are often drunk purely because they get you incapable quicker.
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PRESENT FORMS OF PUNISHMENT ARE INSUFFICIENT AND CERTAINLY DON`T FIT THE CRIME,RETURN TO THE OLD PUNISHMENT ROUTINE .FOR MURDER THE DEATH PENALTY,FOR LESSER CRIMES,THE BIRCH,AND OR CAT OF NINE TAILS,AND FOR OTHER CRIMES OF LESS SEVERITY ,OPEN UP THE BORSTAL TYPE OF CUSTODY FOR JUVENILES.LETS PUT A STOP TO THIS SENSELESS NAUGHTY BOY OR GIRL ATTITUDE,AND SLAP ON THE WRIST ,AND DON`T DO IT AGAIN .WE SEE TOO MUCH OF IT.DO THE CRIME YOU DO THE TIME .
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