Man jailed after attacking woman with metal bar in Blackburn

A man has been jailed for five and a half years for attacking a woman with a metal bar in Blackburn.

The incident, which was completely unprovoked, happened in Ravenglass Close in the early hours of 12^th May 2024.

The victim suffered life changing facial injuries and has lost some vision in one eye.

Kevin Gallagher, 44, formerly of Ravenglass Close, Blackburn, was charged with Section 18 Wounding. He pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court last year and was sentenced at the same court this week.

In an impact statement to the court, the victim said: “What Kevin did to me that night nearly led to me not standing here now as a mother, a daughter and a sister. Before 12th May 2024 I would describe myself as being a happy and outgoing mother. I was in my first year of university studying health and social care and I had a bright future ahead of me for me and my children. I enjoyed the community I lived in, I felt safe and I was surrounded by my friends where I lived.

“Unfortunately, this has all changed and I feel as if my life has been put on hold whilst I continue to recover from what happened to me on 12th May 2024. The injury Kevin inflicted on me caused me to be in hospital for two weeks. For two weeks I was unable to see my children and I couldn’t even speak to them on the phone because Kevin left me unable to talk.

“When I was eventually discharged from hospital, I found myself with nowhere to live. I could not face returning to the address where this nightmare had happened, and I certainly did not want my children there. It was no longer our safe place that we had built up together for the past two years that we lived there.”

She continued: “When I first saw my face and what Kevin had done to me I was devastated. All I could think of was that my children were going to see me like this. I couldn’t even recognise myself, not only through the physical scars but through the mental torture that I continue to live with.

“I am not the same person I was before 12th May 2024. I no longer have the confidence to speak to people the way I used to, I can’t stand facing towards people because of my looks, I can’t walk down the street without being stared at.”

DC Lucy Bowers, of Blackburn CID, said: “This was a cowardly and unprovoked attack carried out by a dangerous man who presents a significant risk of harm to the public through his propensity for spontaneous violence.

“This crime has clearly had a significant and long-lasting impact on the victim and her family as detailed in her harrowing impact statement.

“No sentence can make up for the physical, mental and emotional harm caused to the victim, however I am pleased the public now have some protection from Gallagher via this significant sentence.”