Brutal Scissor Stabber and Girlfriend Beater Jailed for 9 Years
A dangerous thug who stabbed his friend with scissors then savagely battered his girlfriend in a two-hour attack has been locked up for nine years. Patrick Berry, 51, of SE1, was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Tuesday, 20 February, after a brutal crime spree that shocked South London.
Scissor Attack in Bermondsey Pub Ends in Hospital
It all began in the early hours of 1 December 2016, when Berry and his girlfriend joined a friend at his Bermondsey home after a night at the pub. A simple compliment to Berry’s girlfriend set Berry off. He stormed after the friend, kicked him to the floor, and then repeatedly stabbed his face with nail scissors, even aiming for his eyes.
The victim fought free but was then stabbed in the back as he lay prone. Berry didn’t stop there — he stamped on him and smashed him with a chair. The vicious 20-minute assault left the victim unconscious and needing hospital treatment.
Girlfriend Suffers Horrific Two-Hour Beating
Only weeks later, Berry struck again—this time targeting his new girlfriend during a sustained kitchen attack on 29 March 2017. When she refused to discuss Berry’s upcoming trial, he “flipped out” and unleashed a terrifying beating.
Armed with a granite pestle and rolling pin, Berry pummeled her face and head, causing severe injuries. She lost consciousness as Berry kicked, stamped, and sat crushingly on her chest, stopping her from breathing. She needed 21 staples and four stitches for a 45cm scalp wound and suffered major bruising across her body.
Judge Labels Berry ‘Dangerous Offender’
Berry denied the attacks, claiming his girlfriend had attacked him first. But Judge Clarke wasn’t having it. Describing the horror at the victim’s home as “a scene from The Oresteia,” an Ancient Greek tragedy, Berry was branded a dangerous offender and locked up for nine years with an additional extended licence period, and a lifetime restraining order.
Police and Victim Support Praised for Hard-Hitting Justice
Detective Constable Sam Cafferty called Berry “a dangerous individual” guilty of “absolutely brutal attacks” and commended the victims’ bravery. Detective Inspector Tracey Miller highlighted the vital role of Independent Domestic Violence Advisers working alongside police to secure compelling evidence and support victims through the ordeal.
Michelle McGuire, a Victim Support representative, said: “Walworth police and Victim Support are 100 per cent professionals. I have the utmost respect for how they handled my very complicated case. I was truly well looked after and they helped me restore my confidence.”
Berry’s nine-year sentence sends a clear message: violence and terrorising loved ones will not be tolerated on our streets.
