A VIOLENT knife attacker who had previously spent nine years behind bars for rape was described as a 'very dangerous man' by a judge who handed him a life sentence.

Mark Robert Williams slashed his three victims with a knife, leaving two of them bleeding heavily from the neck with life-threatening injuries.

Williams, 37, committed his violent crimes in the space of several hours on the night of Thursday, February 18.

In the first incident, the defendant attacked a sex worker he arranged to meet. He went on to assault a teenage girl before holding both females hostage.

Hours later he struck again, repeatedly stabbing another sex worker in the throat.

At a sentencing hearing at Winchester Crown Court yesterday, the Honourable Mr Justice Neil Garnham told Williams that his conduct was “barbaric”.

Bournemouth Echo: Winchester Crown Court.

The judge handed down a life sentence, with a minimum term of 14 years in prison before the defendant is eligible for parole consideration.

“These were an horrendous series of offences,” said Mr Justice Garnham.

“The women you attacked were utterly terrified.”

He added: “I have no doubt you are a very dangerous man, especially as regards women and girls.”

Prosecuting, Rob Welling told the court Williams was handed an indefinite term of imprisonment for public protection in 2009 for offences of rape and attempted rape.

This had a minimum term of three years. The defendant was released on a lifelong licence in 2018.

The court heard during the day of February 18 this year police arrested Williams on suspicion of distributing indecent images of children.

He was found in a possession of a phone with internet capabilities which he had not informed his supervisors about and faced being recalled to prison.

However, he was released from police custody that day and taken back to his address.

A short time later, Williams gathered gaffer tape, cable ties and a large kitchen knife into a drawstring bag before leaving home.

He then went to an ATM and withdrew all of his savings.

Hostage for two hours

That evening he arranged to meet a sex worker aged in her 40s in Charminster. He went on to attack the woman, who had blood “gushing” from a wound after she was stabbed in the throat, abdomen and thigh.

A teenage girl at the address suffered a cut across her cheek and was sexually assaulted by the defendant.

Williams tied up and gagged the two females, holding them hostage for two hours.

During this incident the defendant told his victims he was “dangerous” and that he should never have been released from prison.

He turned the television on loud to drown out cries for help before leaving his victims locked in the property without their mobile phones.

They managed to break free using scissors before seeking help. Body-worn camera from the police to enter the address was played in court.

Mr Welling described the scene as “harrowing”.

Second attack scene

Later officers were called to reports of a woman screaming in Vale Road.

Having bought himself some beers, Williams arranged to meet another sex worker.

He assaulted her while laying on top of her, putting his hand over her mouth.

The woman, aged in her 30s, tried to call out for help and wrestle free but Williams stabbed her in the throat three times.

Both women were flown to hospital by air ambulance but despite their serious injuries they survived.

Officers located Williams, who was covered in blood and acting strangely, in Old Christchurch Road. He fell to his knees, put his hands out and told officers he was they man they were looking for.

Having been arrested, he gave a full account of what took place.

The court heard his phone was analysed and found to contain internet searches for "violent rape porn" and "what creeps women out the most".

Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder, two counts of false imprisonment, grievous bodily harm with intent and sexual assault by penetration.

Little to mitigate the facts of the crimes

Mitigating, William Emlyn Jones QC told the court Williams’s “remorse is genuine and deeply felt”.

Mr Emlyn Jones QC said his client had a history of depression and he is the "product" of a childhood of abuse, which had a "profound and long lasting impact upon him".

When he was taken back to his home by police earlier on February 18, the defendant was "in a downward spiral", the barrister said.

"There is really nothing I can say in relation to the facts themselves," said Mr Emlyn Jones QC.

He added: "His victims survived their ordeal and mercifully he falls to be sentenced for two attempted murders and not two murders."

Mr Welling read sections of a victim impact statement from the woman aged in her 40s.

The statement said attack had left her "feeling powerless" and it had "changed how I feel for some friends".

"The impact on me hasn't even begun," the statement added. "This is going to be a lifelong struggle.

"My feelings towards men are damaged for life."

No alternative to life sentence

Bournemouth Echo: Mark Robert Williams was jailed at Winchester Crown Court yesterday

Williams, who was wearing a grey tracksuit, appeared at the hearing via video link from HMP Belmarsh.

Throughout the judge's sentencing remarks he sat motionless with his hands resting on stomach.

Mr Justice Garnham ruled the offending had led to "serious and long term physical and psychological harm" for the victim.

The judge said that nothing less than a life sentence was appropriate having assessed the case.

As reported, Dorset Police had prior contact with one of the victims and with Williams. The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The IOPC is conducting an independent investigation and Dorset Police said it was co-operating with them fully throughout this process.