Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ross Thomson

EXCLUSIVE: Lanarkshire mum claims sentence of thug who stabbed her daughter with corkscrew wasn't enough

A Wishaw mum insists the jail sentence given to the thug who stabbed her daughter with a corkscrew was not enough.

Oliver Richardson scarred his then partner for life following the brutal attack at Craig Tara Holiday Park in Ayr.

During the assault he hit her on the face with a mobile phone, dragged her to a bathroom and demanded she take a shower - the yob also nipped her body and threw various items around the caravan.

Richardson, of Hawthorn Drive, Wishaw, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the vile attack when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.

Speaking to Lanarkshire Live following the sentence, the victim’s mum - who asked not to be named - said the family didn’t think the sentence "reflected the abuse and terror" her daughter experienced at the hands of the brute.

She told us: “There was a lot more than was even in the case.

“He will have to reflect on his behaviour over the next 18 months, but those incidents will be with her for the rest of her life.

“As a mum it wasn’t anywhere near enough.

“Richardson didn’t plead guilty straight away, so part of the trial had went on and we saw him looking so smug in the dock.

“He wasn’t so smug this week.”

The 22-year-old initially denied all wrongdoing during the trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court, but then pled guilty to three charges spanning between September 2017 and September 2019.

As well as the holiday assault, he admitted assaulting the woman by throwing her to the ground and repeatedly kicking her on the head.

The brute also repeatedly punched, kicked and nipped her body.

He further admitted a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly shouting, swearing and making offensive remarks towards her.

The offences took place at various addresses in Newmains, Motherwell, Shotts and Wishaw.

Richardson’s solicitor Vincent McGovern said: “He has three times been dismissed from employment because of the nature of the allegations against him.

“We are dealing with significantly less serious matters than the original terms of the indictment and that fact is something which could move the dial towards there being a realistic community based disposal.

“He is under no illusions about the situation he is in.”

Sheriff Liam Murphy told him there was no alternative to custody and said he would have been sentenced to 20 months had he not pled guilty.

He was also banned from contacting his former partner for the next five years.

Sheriff Murphy said: “Taking account of all of the circumstances in this case, I am of the view that the gravity of the offending is such that a custodial sentence is necessary.

“There is no alternative open to the court but given your age this will be at a lower level than it otherwise would be.”

The victim’s mother added: “If the publicity of this stops one other person going through what my daughter did then at least one positive will come out of it.

“She is lucky enough to have a good support behind her, many others don’t.

“I am concerned as there appears to be no remorse there from Richardson so I don’t know if he will change.”

* Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.