THIS shocking photograph shows the horrific injuries a man caused his girlfriend when he tried to kill her in her own home.

Violent thug Matthew Sargent, 30, battered Hayley Lowles before smashing an oven door over her head and leaving her for dead.

Sargent, who has been classed as a danger to the public by psychologists, grabbed the couple’s seven-month-old son before leaving the flat in Osier Drive, Noak Bridge, and buying booze at an off-licence.

He was sentenced to 16-and-ahalf years in prison with a further five years on licence when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Friday.

His sister, Emily Sargent, 28, of Ascot Drive, Basildon, was handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for perverting the course of justice after washing her brother’s bloodstained clothes and hiding them in her home.

Sargent, of no fixed address, was found guilty of attempted murder during a trial in April.

The callous thug went the home of girlfriend Hayley Lowles on August 22 last year to see their seven-month-old son for what he thought would be the last time because he was about to hand himself in to police for burgling Ms Lowles’ next door neighbour’s flat.

Ms Lowles asked Sargent to leave because she suspected he was drunk.

The trial heard he “lost it” and attacked Ms Lowles after she allegedly laughed at him when he said he wanted to stop drinking.

Ms Lowles ran from him and tried to lock herself in her kitchen, but Sargent barged in, punched her to the floor and hit the glass oven door against her head.

He then punched her more than ten times.

Ms Lowles suffered 13 injuries, including bleeding on the brain and a fractured skull, cheek and jaw.

She had deep holes in both sides of her head, behind her ears and a swollen face.

Parts of her skull broke and lodged into her brain tissue and she suffered a broken nose, plus slashes to her face, the side of her head and ears.

The couple’s baby son was in the next room at the time.

After the beating, Sargent grabbed the tot, fled the flat and went to Costcutters, where he left his son outside while he bought booze.

Brave Ms Lowles onlymanaged to survive the horrific attack after dragging herself from her top floor flat to the street, where she collapsed in a pool of blood.

Passers-by called the emergency services.

Sentencing Sargent, Judge John Lodge said: “I dont accept youwere provoked. There is nothing at all that can be laid at the door of Hayley Lowles.

“This was a lengthy and sustained attack on her.

“You beat her to the ground and struck her so hard with the oven door, the glass shattered.

“She somehow managed to crawl from the flat.

“She presented to those who chanced upon her as the victim of a brutal attack. As one witness put it, ‘a piece of butchered meat’.

“The effects of what happened that day will be with her forever.

“I have no hesitation in saying you are a dangerous man.”

Echo: Danger to the public – Matthew Sargent

Hayley: This was the first attack

HAYLEY Lowles has spoken out in the hope other victims of domestic abuse will seek help.

Miss Lowles, 33, only survived the horrific attack because she managed to crawl out of her flat into the street where passers-by called for help.

Speaking to the Echo after the sentencing, she said she was determined to move on and build a new life for her and her son.

She said: “I’m so grateful to everyone who worked so hard for this result today.

“I’m so relieved and finally feel I can draw a line under the situation.

“I don’t remember much of the physical attack. I remember feeling intimidated by his behaviour. He was drunk and aggressive.

“I just remember waking up in the hospital and realising what injuries I’d sustained.”

Miss Lowles has undergone numerous operations to repair her skull and has had plastic surgery to her face. 

Surgeons have warned the ferocity of Sargent’s beating has caused nerve damage, meaning her face could “slip”.

However, she is determined to recover and says her son is a big inspiration.

She added: “My son has been a major support, because I’m determined I’ll get better for him.

“I’m still under the hospital and consultants and dealing with my injuries.

“I have problems with my jaw and there are other things, like I can’t just bend and pick up my son quickly, because I get dizzy.

“It’s not just the physical scars, but also the psychological effect.

“Someone will mention something to me and things come back.

“I can’t go back to the flat that was my home and where I had my child. I’ve had to start from scratch.”

Miss Lowles, who once ran a successful hairdressing business, said she does not think of herself as a “typical” domestic violence victim. She said: “This was the first violent attack I had from Matt, but it was really severe and I might not have lived to tell the tale.

“He was very controlling psychologically. Even though I owned my own flat and paid all the bills, he made me feel I could not live without him.

“When you’re suffering domestic abuse, it’s difficult because you love them and you defend them.

“And you lie to your family and friends and tell them you’re happy.

“It’s hard. The penny dropped for me when I had my son.

“The best advice I can give to anyone suffering abuse is try to remove yourself from the situation and try to think about it as someone looking in.”

Echo: Crime – the scene of the attack

Officer pays tribute to brave victim

THE senior officer who investigated the horrific attack on Hayley Lowles has paid tribute to her.

Senior Investigating Officer, Det Chief Insp Mark Hall, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: “Sargent has shown himself to be a violent and manipulative man and the sentence reflects the horrific nature of this attack.

“The victim was viciously assaulted and left for dead in her home – the one place where she should have felt safe.

“The consequences of this assault have been far-reaching and long-lasting.

“Sargent is a violent and dangerous individual who poses a significant threat to women.

“I pay tribute to the courage of the victim in this case, with the support of her family she has shown great strength and dignity.

“She now faces the difficult task of rebuilding her life and I wish her every success in doing so.

Essex Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have worked tirelessly to ensure MatthewSargent was brought to justice.

“We recognise the impact of violence and abuse within the home at all levels and will take positive action to bring offenders to justice and safeguard victims.”