‘Vile’ domestic abuser from Eastbourne is jailed for attack on woman

Forty-year-old John Rudd admitted inflicting grevious bodily harm and was jailed for 18 months at Lewes Crown Court last week.

The court heard Rudd choked, punched and abused his then partner, using her head “like a football”, punched her so hard it shattered her eye socket, tried to force a remote control down her throat and threatened to put his cigarette out in her eyes.

Police said they were called to the woman’s address in Eastbourne on October 22 last year after neighbours heard the woman screaming in the early hours of the morning.

She was rushed to hospital with severe facial and head injuries.

Rudd, who was living in Firle Road, Eastbourne, was arrested and released on bail.

He was later charged and appeared before Judge Stephen Mooney last Wednesday.

The court heard rudd had been violent in previous relationships with women.

His defence solicitor said Rudd had issues with his temper, alcohol and drug use and wanted to address his problems.

Judge Mooney told Rudd there was no place for violence in any relationship and the level of violence he had shown was ferocious and completely uncalled for.

The judge described Rudd’s attack as vile and said Rudd should be ashamed of himself.

Detective Constable Julian Harris at Eastbourne Police said, “This was a vile and sustained attack on a vulnerable victim, whose courage in supporting a police prosecution has led to justice being served against an extremely violent individual.

“To report an incident of domestic abuse, visit our website here: https://www.sussex.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/”