'Frenzied' hammer attack has left woman feeling 'destroyed'

17 YEARS IN JAIL FOR COCAINE-FUELLED ASSAULT

- By MARTIN NAYLOR

A 41-YEAR-OLD man who attacked a woman with a hammer on a driveway close to her Cinderhill home has left her feeling "destroyed inside and out".

Judge James Sampson told heavily-convicted Julian Mead that his attack on Natalie Packer was "wholly excessive and frenzied".

In an impact statement, the victim told how she lost eight teeth in the attack, still struggles to look at herself in the mirror and "was so frightened I really thought I was going to die" on "the worst day of my life".

Handing the defendant a 17-year jail term, the judge said: "You launched a wholly excessive and frenzied attack on Miss Packer, who ran across the road to try and get away. You armed yourself with a wooden hammer or mallet and left her with a number of serious injuries.

"You and another man, wearing masks and fuelled by cocaine, executed a planned operation to steal a pedigree British bulldog named Winnie to make money from breeding from her. She was old and tired having already had three litters, but you did not care if she died giving birth to more.

"Because of the ferocious nature of this attack on this defenceless woman you are a danger to the public."

A trial earlier this year at Nottingham Crown Court heard how Ms Packer suffered fractures to her skull, face and shoulder blade, as well as three broken ribs among her injuries at the hands of Mead, of Welstead Avenue, Aspley.