Herne Bay acid attacker Gregory Davies jailed for 15 years
16:52, 18 July 2019
updated: 16:53, 18 July 2019
A menace who flung acid into the eyes of his partner’s ex-boyfriend before stamping on his face has been jailed for 15 years.
Gregory Davies knocked Justin Eastwood unconscious with such force he left a shoe print on his face and a bleed on the brain.
Months before, Davies beat an ex-girlfriend to the floor, called her fat and told her to kill herself after she ate toast before dinner.
Both victims have since fled the area.
Judge Catherine Brown sentenced the bully to 15 years in jail, and added a further three to spend on licence when he is released.
He will serve at least 10 before being considered for parole.
Judge Brown told the 36-year-old: “You ambushed [Mr Eastwood], throwing the ammonia on him.
“He went to the ground and you kicked him in the head and stamped on his face.
“When he was found he was unconscious.
“His mother found him and thought she was dead. She saw a footprint on his face from where you stamped on him.”
Mr Eastwood suffered a brain haemorrhage and broken facial bones during the assault.
The attack happened in Rowland Drive, Greenhill, on July 24 last year at 10.40pm as part of a feud between the two men.
The victim told Canterbury Crown Court he had been left partially blind and suffered damaged cognitive functioning.
Judge Brown added: “He was particularly vulnerable when he was kicked and stamped on by you because of your use of acid on him, which drastically affected his ability to defend himself from your attack.
Davies had begun a new relationship with Mr Eastwood’s ex-girlfriend, Hayley Silk.
He then took umbrage to remarks Mr Eastwood made outside his house.
The court heard Davies carried out the attack at the home where Miss Silk and Mr Eastwood were still living together, despite separating.
Mr Eastwood's mum, Denise Kitchen, claimed she was “hysterical” to find her son lying motionless outside the property, with a footprint indented on his face.
“I thought he was dead, he was covered in blood, I was screaming and calling his name, I was hysterical,” she told Canterbury Crown Court.
Prosecutor Shay Stephen explained Special Constables found Davies nearby with an axe.
When he was arrested he spat at officers and kicked their car seats.
Davies pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer and possessing an offensive weapon at a previous hearing.
He was found guilty last month of wounding with intent in relation to the attack on Mr Eastwood.
The court was told of a previous attack on a separate woman Davies was in a relationship with.
In January last year he punched her windscreen as she sat in the car, causing damage, but a month later, on February 28, his rage would intensify.
Mr Stephen told the court Davies placed his hands around her throat in public but did not cause harm until later that day,
“She said he was preparing dinner at the time," Mr Steohen said.
“She prepared a piece of toast and he got abusive."
The barrister told how Davies called her fat, told her to kill herself, knocked her to the floor, dragged her around and beat her.
Davies, of Thornden Wood Road in Greenhill, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage at a previous hearing.
His victim suffers panic attacks, nightmares, flashbacks and has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Disorder Syndrome.
“She feels like she has lost her identity – she has left the area because of this,” Mr Stephen explained.
Judge Brown told Davies: “Before sentencing you I must finally consider the question of whether you are dangerous.
“I have no hesitation in finding that you are dangerous in that there is a significant risk of serious harm being occasioned by you.”
She added Mr Eastwood and Davies himself are lucky he did not die.
Mitigating, Phil Rowley said there had been a significant gap in Davies’ previous offending, with his last conviction in 2013.
Davies' previous convictions
2004 - Two assaults on a constable and criminal damage
2006 - Battery and criminal damage
2007 - Used violence to enter premises
2008 - Criminal damage
2008 - Harassment
2009 - Criminal damage
2009 - Unlawful wounding – 35-month prison sentence
2011 - Criminal damage
2013 - Criminal damage
2013 - Threatening behaviour and criminal damage