Derby Telegraph

Woman victim is left needing surgery after drunken thug attacked her and defiled flat

ATTACKER SPARED JAIL BUT WAS PREVIOUSLY LOCKED UP OVER DRUGS

- By MARTIN NAYLOR martin.naylor@reachplc.com

THIS drunken thug relieved himself on his partner’s carpet before attacking her.

Derby Crown Court heard convicted drug dealer Waqar Lal punched the woman three times in the eye as they argued at her flat.

The 32-year-old’s victim told how since the assault in her home she feels “traumatise­d” by what her now ex-boyfriend did to her.

But his sentencing hearing was told how thankfully she has made a full recovery physically, having required surgery for a detached retina.

Handing the defendant, of Normanton, a suspended prison sentence, Judge Shaun Smith QC said: “It was not a prolonged or persistent assault, it was three punches in quick succession, albeit nasty.

“What you did was unpleasant, it was quick, it was horrible and it had potentiall­y more serious consequenc­es.”

Jeanette Stevenson, prosecutin­g, said the attack took place at the victim’s Derby flat in the early hours of August 16, 2020.

She said Lal, of Rosehill Street, had been invited round by the woman and they were both drinking vodka together.

Miss Stevenson said: “They began arguing as he was accusing her of seeing someone else.”

She said while he did so he pulled down his trousers and urinated on the floor, hurling abuse at her.

Miss Stevenson told the court: “He said to her ‘shall I punch you?’ to which she replied ‘like you can punch me.’ He then punched her three times to the face, to her eye.”

Miss Stevenson said Lal left the address the following morning and the victim went to hospital where she required eye surgery.

In a victim impact statement the woman said: “I feel traumatise­d by the incident, I was very scared due to the threats (he made). He could have done this to anybody, it could have been his family and friends.”

Lal pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage. In 2017 he was jailed for 44 months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Judge Smith handed Lal a ninemonth

I feel traumatise­d by the incident, I was very scared due to the threats.

Victim

prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He also told him to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and attend 30 rehabilita­tion days with the probation service. Sharon Watson, mitigating, said apart from this incident her client has been doing well since being released from prison and had been given a glowing pre-sentence report from Bill Neville from Derbyshire Probation Service.

She said: “He owes a debt of gratitude to Mr Neville.”

 ??  ?? @derbyshire_live Waqar Lal pictured leaving Derby Crown Court
@derbyshire_live Waqar Lal pictured leaving Derby Crown Court

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