Moment woman is 'glassed' in face in horrendous and unprovoked Kingston pub attack

Tom Powell6 July 2017
WEST END FINAL

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A woman has been jailed for nine years after cracking a lady’s head open in a horrific, unprovoked attack in a south London pub.

Annaliese Morris, 31, was at the now-shut Acorn 20 in Kingston six months ago when she approached a group of unknown women who were dancing.

CCTV showed a brief scuffle break out before she smashed one of the ladies in the face with a glass and left her with a 9cm cut as deep as her skull.

The victim was rushed to St George’s Hospital, in Tooting, by ambulance where she was told the cut had severed her nerves, meaning the feeling in her face might never return. She was also left with permanent scars.

Jailed: Annaliese Morris
Kingston Police

Police viewed CCTV from the pub and tracked down Morris at her Richmond home within hours, where she had already removed and washed the dress she had been wearing.

Detectives later uncovered WhatsApp messages Morris had sent to her friends bragging about the attack, even including a picture posing with her bloodied hand.

Bragging: Morris shared a photo of her injured hand with friends on WhatsApp
Kingston Police

In the messages, she says she hit “some bird” in the Acorn, adding “apparently I glassed her”.

Morris denied the assault throughout the police investigation and subsequent trial at Kingston Crown Court, until changing her plea to guilty at the last moment.

The victim, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “The past six months have been a difficult time for me both mentally and physically, that night changed my life forever and is something I will never forget.

Injuries: the victim was left with stitches and permanent scarring
Kingston Police

“From the night of the incident all way through my recovery, the police have been amazing. The encouragement and support from Heidi in the lead up and throughout the case has been incredible.”

DC Heidi Foley, who led the investigation, said: “This was a horrendous assault, the victim has been left with lifelong visible injuries to her face for absolutely no reason while she was enjoying a night out with friends in Kingston.

CCTV shows Morris lash out unprovoked at the victim while she danced
Kingston Police

“I want to praise the work carried out by all of my colleagues in uniform who provided great evidence from the scene and the paramedics and staff at the hospital for helping the victim recover from these injuries.

“I also wish to commend the bravery, determination and courage of the victim and her friends who helped with the investigation.

“Let this sentence be a lesson to those considering assaulting others, we will not tolerate violence and we will investigate and bring those offenders to justice.”

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