A teenage girl in the UK suffered a horrific attack on a bus when a drunken stranger allegedly assaulted her. According to Metro, the incident happened last year when 53-year-old Darren Taylor started making inappropriate comments about Ella Dowling and her friends. An argument ensued between them, but when the bus stopped at the Promenade and the teenager tried to get off, Taylor pounced on her. He grabbed the 19-year-old’s face and repeatedly bit her on the nose and mouth. The violent attack lasted about five minutes, leaving Ms Dowling seriously injured.
With the help of her friends, she manages to escape and bystanders detain Taylor until the police arrive. He was arrested for causing grievous bodily harm with intent after seriously injuring the teenage girl. Her left nostril to the bottom of her upper lip was separated except for a thin layer of skin. Her lip on the right side was also split and there were visible bite marks on her nose and mouth.
The young woman was rushed to Cheltenham General Hospital before being transferred to Gloucestershire Royal Infirmary for emergency surgery. She needed 50 stitches for her injuries.
In March 2024, Taylor pleaded guilty to GBH with intent at Gloucester Crown Court. On July 18, he was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison, with life on parole.
A man has been jailed after biting a woman’s face and causing her serious injuries.
Darren Taylor attacked the 19-year-old victim on a bus in #Cheltenham in November last year (2023).
More about the case here: https://t.co/0WYEbnqmXt pic.twitter.com/2PHcZU1Kbp
— Gloucestershire Police (@Glos_Police) August 9, 2024
Ella, a social work student at Portsmouth University from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, said: “The pain I felt when he sank his teeth into my face is something that will stay with me forever. He was like a dog with a toy – moving his head from side to side. I put my hands around the back of his head because I knew if I didn’t he would rip my lip and nose off completely. When I saw my face for the first time after the attack, I didn’t recognize my own reflection and couldn’t look in the mirror for months afterwards.’
Ms Dowling revealed that the traumatic experience left her with lasting effects. She did not take the bus after the accident because of her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Every time she leaves her home, she needs constant reassurance, needs to talk on the phone with her mother or a friend due to intense fear of being attacked again.
She added: “People say my scar is healing well, but to me it’s more than a scar, it’s a disfigurement and a constant reminder of what happened to me. I smile and speak differently, which is something I will have to learn to live with for the rest of my life.”
Detective Constable Sophie McGough commented: “The injuries inflicted on Taylor were some of the worst I have ever seen. His actions that night were appalling and I am relieved that he will now be behind bars.
