Basingstoke taxi driver is jailed for biting lover
A BASINGSTOKE taxi driver who claimed he felt threatened by his victim used his “teeth as a weapon”, a court has heard.
Michael Gilmore, of Longbourn Place, Priestley Road, was jailed for 16 months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Osmin D’Cruz on September 5, 2019.
Mr D’Cruz had been invited to Gilmore’s home after they had been "intimate together" and during the evening the defendant said there came a time when he “felt he needed to defend himself”.
Winchester Crown Court was told on Thursday last week that the 33-year-old bit his victim on the side of the face and his wrist before punching his chest and head.
In a victim impact statement Mr D’Cruz said: “I have suffered severe trauma and flashbacks on a daily basis whilst at home and at work. I have had nightmares which has caused me to have poor sleep.”
Mr D’Cruz, who works in clinical environment, said that following the attack he had to wear clothing to cover the bites which has left him feeling “self-conscious”.
Judge Susan Evans QC was told that the victim had to have tests for hepatitis and HIV, to check whether he had not been infected by Gilmore biting him.
In mitigation, Gemma White said that her client “recognises the severity of his actions” and believed that he needed rehabilitation to his address his “demons”.
She added: “He has the capacity and capability to be a productive member of society. He is certainly not without his demons and drink has certainly been a problem in the past.”
Ms White said that any prison sentence will be “felt more widely than simply Mr Gilmore” as he looks after his mother and regularly supports his neighbour.
The court was told that Gilmore pleaded guilty to the offence on the first day of trial following a basis of plea agreement.
In sentencing, Judge Evans said: “You genuinely believed that you need to defend yourself but plainly did more than reasonable in the circumstances.
“It was a sustained attack, and you used your teeth as a weapon.”
Gilmore was jailed for 16 months and a restraining order was imposed preventing him from contact Mr D’Cruz.
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