Woman ‘grateful to be alive’ after Berkhamsted assault
The victim, who fought life threatening sepsis and a flesh-eating infection, is speaking out following her attacker’s sentencing
A woman has spoken out about the assault that left her fighting for her life in hospital, saying she is "grateful to be alive."
The attack, which occurred in Berkhamsted on 6 May last year, left the 19-year-old woman battling sepsis and a severe flesh-eating infection.
The victim and her friends had returned to Berkhamsted after a weekend away in Brighton and were waiting for a lift home on the High Street around 1am. While waiting, an older group of men approached them, and the situation quickly escalated after one of the women had a drink poured on her. This led to an altercation in which three of the women were assaulted.
The 19-year-old victim lost consciousness after being attacked and was rushed to hospital, where she was admitted to intensive care the following day. Doctors warned her parents that her arm might need to be amputated due to the severe infection. Without immediate treatment, she was told she could have died.
The two other victims, both 18, sustained injuries in the attack but did not require the same level of treatment.
Following an investigation, James Egan, 30, from Granville Road in Northchurch, Berkhamsted, was arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm (GBH), actual bodily harm (ABH), and common assault. Egan pleaded guilty to the charges.
At St Albans Magistrates’ Court on 31 March, Egan was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete a 91-day alcohol abstinence programme, a six-month daily curfew from 7pm to 6am, six months of mental health treatment, 25 days of rehabilitative activities, and to pay £5,300 in compensation.
The victim, speaking after the sentence, said: "It’s been a really hard and long process that no one should have to go through, but I’m grateful to be alive and have my arm. It was also hard seeing what he put the people around me through, especially my family and my partner. Now that he has been sentenced at court, I can hopefully start to move on."
Her friend also expressed relief, saying: "I’m glad it’s over now and that he’s got what he deserves for what he put me and especially my friend through."
Detective Constable Karen Jordan, from the Dacorum Local Crime Unit, described the case as "particularly distressing and harrowing," adding: "The victims have been so brave in what has been a life-changing incident. This was a totally unprovoked attack. I hope now that Egan has pleaded guilty and been sentenced at court, the girls can start to put this terrible incident behind them, although I’m sure that night will live with them for some time."