A MAN who attacked three females on a night of violence has been described as “a danger to women” after having his minimum term behind bars increased.

Mark Robert Williams received a life sentence with a minimum term of 14 years at a Winchester Crown Court hearing earlier this year.

This was after the 37-year-old, of Cecil Road, Bournemouth, had pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder, two counts of false imprisonment, committing grievous bodily harm with intent and sexual assault by penetration.

Williams’s actions on the night of February 18 were described as “barbaric” by sentencing judge the Honourable Mr Justice Neil Garnham.

The case was referred to the Court of Appeal, where justices found his sentence was unduly lenient and increased it to a minimum term of 18 years.

Speaking after the hearing, which took place on July 21, Solicitor General Lucy Frazer QC MP said: “Williams brutally attacked three separate victims and I concluded that the original sentence did not adequately reflect the level of trauma they suffered.

“The offender is a danger to women, and I am pleased that the court has seen fit to increase the minimum term of his life sentence.”

The defendant left his home on the night of the attacks with tape, cable ties and a large knife in a draw string bag.

Dorset Police received a report of a stabbing at an address in the Charminster area at 8.08pm.

Officers attended and located a woman aged in her 40s with a cut to her throat and abdomen, as well as a puncture wound to her thigh. A teenage girl, who was also present at the address, had a cut across her cheek.

One of the victims told officers at the scene that a man – Williams – had attended the address and attacked them, tied them up, gagged them and threatened to kill them.

The teenage girl was sexually assaulted by Williams.

During this incident the defendant told his victims he was “dangerous” and that he should never have been released from prison previously –Winchester Crown Court heard Williams had already been locked up for several years for rape and attempted rape.

Williams turned the television on loud to drown out cries for help before leaving his victims locked in the property without their phones. They managed to break free of the restraints using scissors before seeking help.

The woman was flown to hospital by air ambulance in a life-threatening condition and the girl was taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries.

At 11.59pm officers were called to reports of a woman screaming elsewhere in the town. Williams had repeatedly stabbed her in the throat before leaving the scene.

The victim – a woman aged in her 30s – was found with a laceration to her throat. She was flown by air ambulance to hospital and required surgery due to the severity of her injuries.

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