A RUGBY club captain has been locked up indefinitely after a judge branded him a public danger.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard yesterday how former police officer, David Ewen, 48, had attacked his ex-partner and her daughter with a truncheon after forcing his way into their home.

Ewen of Brownsea Close, New Milton, was captain of New Milton rugby club when violence flared in the early hours of February 7 this year. Stuart Ellacott, prosecuting, said Ewen donned a black balaclava and armed himself with a wooden truncheon before going to the home of Theresa Amey and her daughter Daniella. He forced his way in and struck Daniella about the head, knocking her to the floor. Mr Ellacott added: “He began to aim further blows as she lay crumpled at the bottom of the stairs.

“She raised her arms to try and ward off the blows, screaming for her mum to help.

Daniella tried to grab Ewen as he moved upstairs towards her mother but her hands were slippery with blood.

She was aware of her mother stumbling backwards and could see blood pouring down her face.”

Mrs Amey told police she had been woken by her daughter’s screams and confronted by a masked man who started attacking her.

Although she couldn’t see Ewen’s face she recognised him and shouted ‘Dave, stop’. Her daughter phoned the police and Ewen fled. While officers were at the scene he returned and was arrested.

Mrs Amey suffered a broken arm, fractured finger, head injuries and bruising to her hands and arms. She needed surgery and was in hospital for nine days. Daniella sustained deep cuts to her head and bruising to her face, head, arms and shoulders.

In Ewen’s defence, the court heard he had expressed an “unreserved apology” for the harm he had inflicted and was “totally ashamed.” He accepted full responsibility and had pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the earliest opportunity.

Imposing an indeterminate sentence for public protection, Judge John Beashel told Ewen: “These are grave offences. To force yourself into a person’s home in the middle of the night armed with a truncheon and then to use the weapon to attack the occupants points to you being a very dangerous man.”

Ewen will not be considered for release until he has served three years behind bars.