Budding model left with 'devastating injuries' after man who boasted he was 'hardest in Grimsby' punched her in the face

A BUDDING model who dreamed of a career in the beauty business had her hopes wrecked when she was viciously punched in the face and left with "devastating" injuries.

Her violent attacker boasted about being "the hardest man in Grimsby" before knocking out some of her teeth, breaking her jaw and leaving her lip hanging off, a court heard.

She could not face modelling again after the "horrendous" attack – and was told the day she left hospital that she had reached the finals of a modelling competition.

Daniella Fowler, the victim of the horrific attack by James Pickard, 23, of Cleethorpes, has spoken to the Grimsby Telegraph about the devastating attack which left her with a fractured jaw, bottom lip torn away and hanging off and broken teeth.

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In the first of a three-part series, we reveal details of the attack and the man behind it today. Read the first part of Daniella's interview online at www.thisisgrimsby tomorrow and the second in Monday's Grimsby Telegraph.

Pickard, of Fuller Street, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Daniella and assaulting her friend, Danielle Barker, causing actual bodily harm, on August 17.

Mark Kendall, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that the two women became involved in confrontations outside a Cleethorpes nightclub after 2am. Pickard boasted that he was "the hardest man in Grimsby" and that he "owned the streets".

He hurled a shoe and the heel hit Miss Barker, 20, on the head. One of his companions punched her in the face.

Pickard grabbed hold of Miss Fowler, 20, by the waist and punched her in the face "with his full weight behind it", knocking her unconscious.

The scene was "horrendous" and she was "covered in blood". Some of her teeth were knocked out and her bottom lip was torn away and hanging off. Her jaw was fractured and she needed operations to remove teeth, clean and repair her lip, and reposition her lower jaw. She now needed false teeth.

On the day she got out of hospital, Miss Fowler received a call to say that she had got to the finals of a modelling competition. She was "gutted" she would not be able to continue her modelling.

"She used to be proud of her smile but now avoids smiling with her mouth open," said Mr Kendall. She had lost her confidence and took a long time to do her make-up to cover up scars.

Miss Fowler, of Sheffield, did not now feel confident about working in the fields of make-up and beauty which she had originally planned to do.

Pickard had 42 previous convictions, including for offences of robbery, wounding, affray and assault, causing actual bodily harm.

Richard Hackfath, mitigating, said Pickard acted first as a peacemaker but matters "degenerated". He landed a single blow on Miss Fowler but caused serious injuries. He claimed he could not remember much about the incident and regretted getting involved.

Pickard, who had been in custody, was jailed for two years and 11 months. Recorder Jonathan Bennett told Pickard: "They were serious offences. It's the sort of incident that rightly concerns the public."

The injuries had caused a "very significant impact" on Miss Fowler. "She was looking at a career in modelling," he said. This was now "highly unlikely to happen" because she still had a significant injury to her lower lip.

"You gave her an almighty punch that knocked her to the ground, causing those devastating injuries," said Recorder Bennett.

"You pose a high risk of harm to the public, linked to your violent behaviour."