A SHAMED rugby club captain has been locked up indefinitely after a judge branded him a danger to the public.

Former police officer David Ewen, 48, attacked his ex-partner and her daughter with a truncheon after forcing his way into their home, a court heard.

Ewen was the captain of New Milton Rugby Club when violence flared in the early hours of February 7 this year. He admitted a charge of aggravated burglary.

Prosecutor Stuart Ellacott said Ewen had donned a black balaclava and armed himself with a wooden truncheon before going to the home of Theresa Amey and her daughter Daniella. He forced his way in and struck Daniella about the head, knocking her to the floor. Mr Ellacott added: “He began to aim further blows as she lay crumpled at the bottom of the stairs.

“She raised her arms to try and ward off the blows, screaming for her mum to help. Daniella tried to grab Ewen as he moved upstairs towards her mother but her hands were slippery with blood.

“She was aware of her mother stumbling backwards and could see she had blood pouring down her face.”

Mrs Amey told police how she had been woken by her daughter’s screams and confronted by a masked man who started attacking her. Although she could not see Ewen’s face she recognised him and shouted: “Dave, stop.” Her daughter phoned the police and Ewen fled. While officers were at the scene he returned and was arrested.

Mrs Amey suffered a broken arm, fractured finger, head injuries and bruising to her hands and arms. She needed surgery and was in hospital for nine days. Daniella sustained several deep cuts to her head and bruising to her face, head, arms and shoulders. In Ewen’s defence, Bournemouth Crown Court heard that he had expressed an “unreserved apology” for the physical and emotional harm he had inflicted and was “totally ashamed”.

He accepted full responsibility and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. Imposing an indeterminate sentence for public protection, Judge John Beashel told Ewen: “These are grave offences. To force yourself into a person’s home in the middle of the night armed with a truncheon and then to use the weapon to attack the occupants points to you being a very dangerous man.”

Ewen, of Brownsea Close, New Milton, will not be considered for release until he has served three years.