New Milton man Ryan Sheppard launched a ‘barbaric’ attack on a couple in Christchurch – headbutting the girl and trying to gouge out the eyes of the man

A New Milton man with a history of violent offending since being a teenager launched a “barbaric” attack on a couple – trying to gouge the man’s eyes and head butting his partner knocking her tooth out.

Victim Ryan Seerey said he feared he would be blinded by Ryan Sheppard (33) and felt like he was “in a horror film where people are tortured for the pleasure of others”.

He described the attack on his girlfriend Chelsea Bower as “animalistic”, while she said it seemed Sheppard was “possessed” as he repeatedly punched her in the face.

At the time of the offence, the defendant – who has 16 convictions for 24 offences, most of them violent in nature – had just finished a suspended prison sentence for assaulting his sister and her partner.

Sheppard, of Davis Field, had attacked Mr Seerey and Ms Bower after they left Cameron’s bar in Christchurch on 11th September 2021, Bournemouth Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Rob Welling said Sheppard had also been in the bar with Mr Seerey’s former girlfriend and had tried to “goad” her ex into a fight.

Mr Seerey ignored him, but after the couple left the bar Sheppard appeared in a car which drove past them several times.

The defendant shouted abuse at them, before getting out the vehicle and punching Mr Seerey in the jaw. Ms Bower had tried to intervene.

Mr Welling told the court: “For her efforts she was head butted in the face.”

The defendant then pummeled Mr Seerey to the floor, sat on him and plunged his fingers into his eyes.

His girlfriend tried to help him again but was pushed to the floor and “punched repeatedly in the face.”

After his arrest Sheppard claimed to police he had been acting in “self-defence”.

Sheppard had denied the offence, but had pleaded guilty to two counts of ABH on the day his trial was supposed to start.

His victims were not present in court when he was sentenced on Wednesday; but in a victim impact statement Mr Seerey said the attack on him was “barbaric”, adding: “Even now I have flashbacks to his fingers being in my eyes.

“The pain was immense.”

Describing the attack on his girlfriend, Mr Seerey said: “I was shocked to see that level of aggression from a man to a woman – it was nothing short of animalistic.”

In her victim impact statement Ms Bower said: “Every punch to my face made me see stars and I couldn’t even cry for help.

“It was as if Sheppard was possessed.”

The attack left her with a broken tooth, a black eye, and cuts and bruising to her face. She now has a scar on her face and has been diagnosed with PTSD.

She revealed: “I am anxious and cry all the time. My mum says she wishes she could have her old Chelsea back.

“I am embarrassed and ashamed of my appearance, having lost a tooth which I have been told will cost between up to £3,000 to repair.”

She also said she had to “step down” as supervisor at a children's nursery, leading to a £6,000 drop in wages.

Defence barrister Jamie Gammon admitted: “This was an ugly and unattractive incident and it is difficult to see how sympathy can be extended to the defendant.”

But he said his client was a “deeply troubled man with ongoing mental health issues which will take some substantial professional help to unravel”.

Jailing Shepherd for three years and seven months, Judge Jonathan Fuller KC said he had acted with “uncontrolled violence that night”.

Referring to a letter the defendant had written him, in which he offered “sincere apologies” to his victims, the Judge said: “You did but it is very late in the day.”