A MAN who carried out a “vicious and frenzied” knife attack in Poole town centre on a woman who knew him has been jailed for 13 years.

Gary Patrick Sadler approached the victim in the Dolphin Shopping Centre in August last year and asked her how she was.

He then pulled a knife out of his trouser pocket and launched at the woman. The 57-year-old moved the knife towards her neck, before she hit the blade with her hand, causing it to break off the knife handle.

Despite the knife breaking, Sadler continued to try and stab the victim. He then grabbed her by her hair and pulled her to the floor.

The victim was punched in the face while lying on the floor on her back, with Sadler kneeling on her legs so she couldn’t move.

A woman who was nearby, and heard the victim shout for help, asked the man to leave the victim alone and go away. Sadler consequently got up and walked away.

Following enquiries by officers, Sadler was located a short time later in Baiter Gardens and arrested. The knife was located at the scene of the assault.

The victim sustained cuts to her face, neck and back, as well as a cut to her finger after trying to get Sadler to stop attacking her. She was taken to hospital to receive treatment.

Sadler, of Victoria Road, Parkstone, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Monday, June 15. This followed a trial at the same court in which he was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife in a public place in relation to the incident on the morning of Sunday, August 11, 2019.

Detective Constable Ben Swain, of Bournemouth CID, said: “Gary Sadler was responsible for a vicious and frenzied attack.

“I would like to praise the victim for her bravery as this must have been a very frightening incident and it has had a significant physical and psychological impact on her life.

“I am also keen to thank the members of the public who intervened for their outstanding actions that stopped the victim from being further assaulted.

“I am pleased that we were able to locate Sadler and arrest him so we could bring him before the court to face justice for this serious offence.”