Man Jailed For Vicious Hammer Attack

A 39-year-old man has been imprisoned for six years after pleading guilty to a serious assault on a woman in the Upton area of Poole.

Paul Logan Bell, from Poole, attacked a woman with a hammer while they were out walking near Sandy Lane on 3 February 2012.

The victim, a 46-year-old woman from Bournemouth, sustained a minor head injury as a result of the attack.

Bell was arrested and subsequently charged with attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

He pleaded not guilty to attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was convicted at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday 23 August 2012 and remanded in custody.

Bell was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday 8 October 2012.

The officer in the case, Detective Constable Joanne Shewbridge, of Bournemouth and Poole CID, said:

"The injuries in this attack do not reflect the severity of events that took place.

"The offender knew the victim well.

"This was a pre-meditated and calculated attack with a hammer, and the victim could easily have been severely injured or even killed had she not been spotted by dog walkers in the area at the time.

"The sentencing is a reflection of the severity of what took place that day.

"I hope this sentence serves as a reminder that such dangerous behaviour will not be tolerated."

The CPS prosecutor in the case was Desmond Duffy.