Knifeman in Simonstone stand-off had bitten off girlfriend’s nose (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Knifeman in Simonstone stand-off had bitten off girlfriend’s nose

11:00am Tuesday 18th October 2011 in Simonstone By Wendy Barlow, Court reporter

HUNT Police in Simonstone last year

A KNIFEMAN who terrorised the village of Simonstone had earlier bitten off his girlfriend’s nose.

Robert MacKenzie Wilson, 39, yesterday admitted wounding Jane Ireland with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm.

Ms Ireland has had to have plastic surgery because of her injuries and remains scarred.

After attacking Ms Ireland in a prolonged violent outburst he sparked an eight-hour manhunt with armed officers and police dogs swarming the Simonstone area following reports he could be hiding in a nearby house or fields.

The local primary school was ‘put in lockdown’ and people were told not to leave their homes.

Wilson went on to threaten a woman in the village with a knife, demanding her car keys.

He then tried to escape in her red Honda car but crashed into a wall and was forced to flee on foot.

Police eventually tasered Wilson before arresting him.

Yesterday Burnley Crown Court heard Wilson was already serving a life term behind bars for other violent offences and could now be facing another.

Wilson also pleaded to assaulting PC Mark Rigby with intent to resist arrest, on July 19, last year.

He had earlier admitted aggravated burglary at Bank Terrace, Simonstone and having an offensive weapon, relating to him going on the run after the wounding.

Burnley Crown Court heard how at the time of the offences, Wilson was on licence from a life sentence imposed in about 2003 after he was convicted of three woundings with intent to do cause grievous bodily harm.

He has now been recalled to prison.

Ms Ireland has had to undergo plastic surgery because of her injuries and remains scarred.

The hearing was told a psychiatric report stated the defendant had a personality disorder and had been drunk and perhaps taken drugs when he struck.

He had spent the majority of his time since his arrest on the intermediate or hospital wing at Preston Prison and was on medication.

Wilson, now of Selkirk Street, Burnley, now faces either another life sentence or an indeterminate term for public protection and Judge Jonathan Gibson, who had read medial reports on Wilson, adjourned the case until November 21, for the probation service to look at the issue of dangerousness.

He told the court: "I think it's essential I have a report from the probation service."

Wilson's solicitor Gillian Crossley told the hearing: "He appreciates the options in relation to sentence are very, very limited."

Police started the manhunt after the serious early hours assault on Ms Ireland in Hapton Road, Padiham.

As well as officers on the ground the police helicopter was scrambled to look for the defendant.

Ms Ireland went to a neighbour's home for help and was taken to hospital.

But hours later Wilson threatened the woman in Bank Terrace, who had been confronted in her home and managed to raise the alarm at a neighbour's house.

He was arrested three hours later.