Police release picture of woman’s injuries as her attacker is jailed

A thug who slashed a woman across the face in a Christmas Eve attack after a row in a pub has been jailed for 12 years.

Keelan Burke fled to Scotland after leaving the 22-year-old victim with a seven-inch wound running from the middle of her forehead down her cheek in an assault in Willenhall, near Walsall, West Midlands, police said.

Burke, 24, was jailed at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty of wounding.

West Midlands Police said the victim was left with permanent scarring after a fight broke out in Bentley Lane, Willenhall, at 11.30pm on December 24, 2018.

Burke, from Willenhall, had earlier punched the woman and threw a drink in her face during a row at a pub where the victim was meeting friends.

The horrific injuries Burke caused
The horrific injuries Burke caused

The two groups later clashed outside the bar and Burke lashed out with what is believed to have been either a knife or a glass, leaving the woman with injuries which required 26 stitches.

Officers said Burke fled the scene along with another man suspected of possessing a knife and travelled to Scotland on Christmas Day.

Mobile phone analysis enabled detectives to track Burke’s journey late on Christmas Day into Boxing Day, connecting him to an address in Peterhead, near Aberdeen.

They liaised with colleagues in Scotland and in the early hours of January 5 Burke was arrested outside a nightclub.

Investigating officer, Pc Laura Dolan, said: “The row started after the victim heard Burke on his phone threatening to attack one of her friends – and when she confronted him he punched her in the face and threw a drink over her.

“Her friends challenged Burke over what happened and both he and an associate responded by lashing out with weapons.

“It was a gross and grotesque overreaction and has left this young lady scarred for life.

“Burke clearly thought that putting distance between himself and the offence, by fleeing to Scotland, would keep the police off his back. But in just a matter of days we’d managed to track him down to face justice.

“I hope the victim can take some consolation that her attacker has been put behind bars for many years where he is no longer a danger to the public.”

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