Coley Park stabbing: Reading woman's 'life ruined' by ex

George Hassall, 22, rained down punches and kicks on the young woman before pulling out a 6cm folding knife and plunging it into her forehead.

Prosecutor Matthew Knight told Oxford Crown Court on Thursday that the vicious attack could have been worse had the victim not used her hands to prevent her ex from stabbing her in the neck.

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She received five stab wounds, including three to her head and two to her hands. In all, she required 26 stitches and was left with permanent scars as a reminder of what Hassall did to her. Her skull was fractured.

In a victim personal statement read to the court by Mr Knight, she said: “I feel what has happened has ruined my life. I was attacked in the street, in broad daylight. I don’t feel safe anymore. How can I?”

The woman, who had to leave the courtroom while her statement was read aloud, had not recovered full movement in one of the fingers that was stabbed. She ‘hated’ her fingers, she said, and had got tattoos to try and cover them up.

The court was told that Hassall had arranged to meet with the woman near her home in Reading on November 24 last year.

Jealous about a new relationship she’d started, he was verbally abusive and, as they reached a bus stop on Wensley Road, made a grab for her coat and arm then punched her 10 to 15 times in the face and head.

Mr Knight said: “The victim described him as being furious at that point. She raised her hands to try and protect her face, to try and stop him but he pushed her hands down so he could continue to punch her.

READ MORE: Residents give eyewitness account of Coley Park stabbing

“The victim fell to the floor. The defendant has then kicked her to the back of the head, neck and on her back, delivering repeated kicks to her.”

George Hassall. Image via TVP

He produced the knife, which he bought as a child, usually kept in his car door and had with him as he was concerned the woman’s area was ‘rather rough’, and stabbed at her. The knifing was caught on CCTV from a passing bus.

Neighbours came to the woman’s aid. Paramedics said she drifted in and out of consciousness, telling them she feared she would die.

Hassall fled the scene and was arrested behind the wheel of his car on the M40 later that day.

The motivation for the attack was detailed in a psychiatric report. Mr Knight summarised: “Seemingly unable to deal with the rejection [his victim] had given him, he committed this vicious assault on her.”

In mitigation, Hassall was said to be of previous good character, the attack was out of character and he ‘bitterly regretted’ using the knife.

Character references described him as ‘quiet, gentle and kind’. He was suffering from depression at the time.

READ MORE: Woman taken to hospital after Coley Park stabbing

Hassall, formerly of Harts Lane, Burghclere, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.

Jailing him for two years and eight months, Judge Michael Gledhill QC said: “You quite deliberately took that knife out of the pocket of the car door and put it in your clothing.

“You did that in case you needed it. The explanation given through [your barrister] about you taking it because it was quite a rough area is nonsense. You did not take it to look after yourself in any defensive way. You took it in case you needed to use it and that is very much to your discredit.

“However bad your depression was, wherever you fall on the autism scale, however immature you are, you quite deliberately took that knife to use it if you thought it was necessary.”

A restraining order bans Hassall from contacting his victim for life.