Mother Left Permanently Scarred After Assault by Friend

A mother of two has suffered permanent scarring after a friend bit off part of her lip during a drunken altercation. Charlotte McCarter, aged 34, required a staggering 42 stitches following the violent incident that unfolded in her home in Dalton, Lancashire, in 2023.

The confrontation began when Ms. McCarter was drinking with her ex-boyfriend and his partner, Paris Brown, 26. An argument erupted over Brown’s perception of Ms. McCarter’s alcohol consumption. In a moment of rage, Brown lunged at Ms. McCarter, pulling her hair and biting her lip, which resulted in significant facial injuries. Following the attack, Ms. McCarter was left bleeding heavily and in intense pain.

At Preston Crown Court last week, Brown pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and received a suspended prison sentence of one year. The sentence has sparked outrage from Ms. McCarter, who feels that the outcome does not reflect the severity of her injuries.

Describing her ordeal, Ms. McCarter shared the traumatic details of her recovery. “The top bit of my lip was just hanging off,” she recounted. “The bottom bit had a 1 cm laceration—it was just missing.” After receiving treatment at Furness General Hospital, she faced further surgery at another facility the following morning.

Ms. McCarter continues to struggle with the physical and emotional aftermath of the attack. “Within 20 minutes of the anaesthetic running out, I was in tears,” she recalled. “The pain was so bad I was crying, my mouth was throbbing.” She also mentioned complications in her daily life, as she can now only drink from the right side of her mouth to avoid drooling.

The psychological impact of the incident has been profound. Ms. McCarter expressed her concern about how her scarring affects her confidence. “When I smile, I feel conscious of it. It’s an obvious dip in my face,” she stated. The public nature of her work further complicates her recovery, as she had to take weeks off to heal from her injuries.

In light of the court’s decision, Judge Andrew Jefferies KC explained the reasoning behind the suspended sentence. He acknowledged the seriousness of the crime but pointed to the lengthy delay in the legal process as a contributing factor. “The message should be that people go to prison,” he said. However, he emphasized the impact on Brown’s children, suggesting they are the true victims in this situation.

Ms. McCarter expressed her disbelief at the outcome, stating, “It’s absolutely shocking. It kind of gives people the idea that ‘yeah, you can do this, it’s fine, you can get away with it.'” Her comments reflect a broader concern about accountability in cases of violent crime, especially those involving intimate relationships.

As the legal ramifications of this incident unfold, Ms. McCarter continues to navigate her new reality, grappling with the physical scars and the emotional toll of the attack. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the lasting consequences of violence and the urgent need for justice in such cases.