Man jailed after he attacked woman on a bus in Cheltenham

A 53-year-old man has been jailed after he bit a woman’s face and caused significant injuries to her.

Darren Taylor attacked the 19-year-old victim on a bus in Cheltenham in November last year.

He has now been jailed for six years and nine months after he admitted to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

At around 8.15pm on Saturday 18 November the victim and two friends got onto a bus in Churchdown which was heading to Cheltenham.

After they sat down, they noticed Taylor, who appeared to be intoxicated, sat with two others and he made inappropriate comments about them.

An argument between them followed, but as the bus pulled up at the Promenade and the victim tried to get off, Taylor lunged at her. He grabbed her face and repeatedly bit her nose and mouth.

The victim described how it felt like Taylor would bite her and then pull away, to try and rip parts of her face off.

She tried to stop Taylor with help from her friends and others who intervened, and then he ran off and was detained by members of the public until police arrived.

The woman’s left nostril to the lower part of her top lip was detached, except for a thin layer of skin. Her lip on the right side was also split open and she had visible bite marks over her nose and mouth. The victim was taken to hospital and she required more than 50 stitches.

In a statement written by the victim, she said: “I constantly find myself thinking back to what happened and have to distract myself, or I find myself in a spiral of negative thoughts.

“I still experience nightmares, these might not necessarily be about what happened, but in the dreams I am gripped by fear.”

She continued: “People keep telling me that my scar is healing well. Whilst I know they mean well, for me it is more than just a scar, it is a disfigurement and a permanent reminder of what happened to me.

“It has completely changed the look of my face. I now smile differently and speak differently which is something that I am going to have to learn to live with for the rest of my life.”

The Constabulary’s Criminal Investigation Department led on the case.

During police interview while under arrest Taylor said he was not a well man, that he must have lost control and that he cannot go around hurting people. He said in police interview that he was remorseful.

Investigating officer DC Sophie McGough said: “The injuries Taylor caused were some of the worst I have ever seen. His actions that evening were awful, and I am glad that he will now spend time behind bars.

“This incident must have been horrifying for the victim, who has been extremely brave throughout the criminal justice process. This attack will have a lasting impact on her both physically and mentally, and she continues to recover at home.

“I would like to thank the members of the public who also bravely intervened and helped with apprehending Taylor prior to police arrival.”

Taylor admitted the offence at a hearing at Gloucester Crown Court on 26 March 2024 and he was sentenced on 18 July. Alongside the custodial sentence he was given a restraining order to not contact the victim.