Ex-boyfriend inflicted physical abuse on me under influence of drugs... I sent panicked audio message, concern for my life palpable
In a shocking incident that took place in Egremont, Cumbria, 26-year-old Josh Dunn has been jailed for 20 months for attacking his ex-girlfriend, Hannah-Lou Hurst, and her mother, Stacey Holmes. The attack occurred on April 7, leaving both women severely injured.
Hannah-Lou, a 20-year-old woman, contacted the police after being attacked by Dunn. During the assault, she was throttled, bitten, and suffered damage to her eye, requiring a new prescription for her lens. She also needed antibiotics for the bite she received. In addition, Hannah-Lou suffered a scratch to her lens and a miscarriage in October 2023, events she suspects are linked to the trauma of the attack. Hannah-Lou also suspects she has PTSD as a result of the incident.
Stacey Holmes, Hannah-Lou's mother, made a 10-minute car journey to the housing block but was met by Dunn upon arrival. She suffered a concussion and internal bleeding during the prolonged beating. Despite managing to tackle Dunn to the ground, Stacey became fear-struck and froze.
Dunn, who was heavily intoxicated on drink and drugs during the attack, admitted five offences at Carlisle Crown Court on August 6. Some of his offences refer to an incident on May 10 at Egremont Store where he broke the window and subjected the owner to racist abuse.
Judge Nicholas Barker, in his ruling, imposed a five-year restraining order on Dunn in addition to the 20-month sentence. Hannah-Lou is calling for the law to be updated to punish domestic abusers more harshly.
In her victim impact statement, Hannah-Lou spoke of numerous occasions when Dunn slapped her across the face while he was drunk or on drugs. In a distressing voice note, Hannah-Lou can be heard crying and saying "he's got hold of me again".
The search results do not contain information about the lawyer who represented Josh Dunn in the court case.
This incident serves as a reminder of the devastating impact domestic abuse can have on victims and their families. It is crucial that such incidents are reported and that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
