Ryan James Sheppard jailed for attack on Christchurch couple

Ryan James Sheppard tried to gouge the eyes of a young man after headbutting his girlfriend during a terrifying assault in Christchurch, a court heard.

His defence barrister even said it was “difficult to see how any sympathy can be extended” to the defendant – who has previous convictions for assaulting his sister and ex-partner.

Ryan Seerey and his girlfriend Chelsea Bower had enjoyed the evening of September 11, 2021, at Cameron’s bar in Bargates when they encountered Mr Seerey’s ex-partner in the company of Sheppard and another woman.

Bournemouth Crown Court was told by prosecutor Rob Welling how Sheppard, now 33, began goading Mr Seerey into a fight.

Camerons bar in Christchurch

“Mr Seerey did not rise to the bait,” Mr Welling said, adding that the couple then began walking home before the confrontational trio began shouting insults at them from a car.

After making several passes, Sheppard and the two women got out of the car and approached the couple – with the defendant again challenging Mr Seerey to a fight.

As the complainant declined for a second time, the third woman in the group said “I don’t like you” to Mr Seerey, who replied, “I don’t like you back”.

In response, Sheppard “squared up” to Mr Seerey before punching him in the jaw and knocking him to the ground.

The court heard how a shocked Ms Bower then intervened to help her boyfriend but was brutally headbutted by Sheppard, causing her front tooth to break.

Ryan James Sheppard, 33 and of New Milton, has been jailed. (Image: Dorset Police)

The violence continued as Sheppard sat on top of Mr Seerey and began gouging at his eyes.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Seerey said it felt as though Sheppard was both trying to gouge his eyes out and push them further into his socket. He added: “I could have lost my vision.

“Even now I have flashbacks and for several weeks I’d wake up in a cold sweat.”

Mr Seerey said the defendant “seemed to take pleasure” in inflicting the “animalistic” assault.

Despite being injured and distressed, Ms Bower again tried to protect her boyfriend from Sheppard, who pushed her to the ground and began punching her in the face.

The couple both suffered eye injuries as well as several cuts and bruises. Ms Bower was also diagnosed with PTSD following the incident.

Bournemouth Crown Court

Appearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Wednesday, July 19, Sheppard previously pleaded guilty to two counts of ABH.

Jamie Gammon, mitigating, said: “On any view, this incident was ugly and it’s difficult to see how any sympathy can be extended to Mr Sheppard.

“He is a deeply troubled man with some ongoing mental health issues which leads to him being angry.

“He needs substantial help.”

Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Fuller KC said: “Mr Seerey was in genuine fear at the time of losing his sight.

“You offered apologies for what you did, but the reality is it’s very late in the day. You have tried at every opportunity to avoid facing what you did.”

Sheppard, of New Milton, was jailed for three years and seven months.