‘Man tried to gouge out former father-in-law’s eyes in attack’
COURT TOLD SON-IN-LAW ALSO PUT SKIPPING ROPE AROUND HIS NECK
A MENTALLY unwell man viciously attacked his former father-in-law by trying to gouge out his eyes in a “revenge attack”, a court has heard.
Kenneth Evans, 51, had forced David Williams, 66, to the floor of his own home in Uxbridge, before placing a children’s skipping rope around his neck.
Neighbours came to assist after hearing the older man’s cries for help and he was rushed to hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Mr Williams survived the attack, but has been left permanently blind in one eye.
Appearing on Tuesday April 19 at the Old Bailey, Evans, who was homeless at the time, was handed an indefinite hospital order for the assault.
The defendant, who had previously been married to Mr Williams’ daughter, had arrived at his doorstep on April 13 2021, but was refused entry.
He then pushed his way in before punching his victim “repeatedly” before he then placed his thumbs into his eyes whilst Mr Williams attempted to resist.
Evans had also brought a bag containing rope with a noose to the property, but this was not used during the attack.
After neighbours overheard Mr Williams’ screams, they succeeded in stopping the attack and told Evans to stand outside, where he told a neighbour: “He deserved it.”
Mr Williams was found with bleeding eyes and was treated for a ruptured eye and a dislocated lens, along with other general injuries.
Following his arrest by police at the scene, Evans made a number of “bizarre comments”, including references to Boris Johnson and the Queen, saying: “I want the whole f***ing ship to go under and I don’t care if it starts a war. I have love for David. He didn’t want me there and I understand that, but I had to fight my corner for a change.”
Evans later told psychiatrists that his former in-law had placed a “third eye” at the back of his head, and the attack was motivated by revenge as an “eye for an eye”.
He was originally charged with attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent, pleading guilty to the latter.
Despite medical intervention in hospital, Mr Williams has completely lost his vision in one eye, with prosecutor Teresa Hay telling the court: “Suffice to say that for the moment the injury has been lifechanging for him.”
In a victim impact statement read aloud, he said that he now suffers from anxiety and nightmares and has lost interest and motivation in his hobbies.
He said that Evans had “deliberately and methodically” put his fingers into his eyes and that he no longer has 3D vision due to the damage caused to his right eye.
“I never used to have nightmares before Ken’s attack, but since April 13 I have nightmares once a week. These feelings of terror continue when I wake up,” he said.
Describing himself as politically active, he said: “My days of door-knocking and meeting people on the doorsteps are now behind me”.
He also told the court he had not driven since the incident.
A keen photographer, he has also not picked up a camera and continues to have difficulty doing basic activities such as putting a pan on the hob.
Of his relationship with Evans, who had been living in a tent on the side of a road in Uxbridge last April, he said: “Ken was welcomed by myself into our family 10 years ago. I think I have been nothing but kind. l never judged him and I go out of my way to try to help Ken.” The court also heard that Evans had been fined and handed a restraining order against his former in-law after a previous incident in 2019. After his arrest, Evans began displaying psychotic symptoms and was transferred to the Three Bridges medium secure unit, where experts concluded that he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
Appearing via CVP link, Dr Hillier recommended a Section 37 and 42 hospital order with restrictions, stating: “I consider that Mr Evans does have a severe and enduring mental illness that is of a nature at present that would justify detention in hospital.”
Sentencing him to an indefinite hospital order, Judge Sarah Munro QC noted that following the breakdown of his relationship with his partner in 2015, he had directed his “ire” towards her dad.
“It was clear by then you had developed a hatred for David Williams and wished he was dead,” she said.
The result of this has left the 66-year-old with “permanent, lifechanging and irreversible injuries”.
He was handed an indefinite hospital order under Section 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act and will be detained at St Bernard’s Hospital, in Southall.
Suffice to say that for the moment the injury has been life-changing for him.
Prosecutor Teresa Hay