Jealous boyfriend jailed for Cardiff stabbing

23 November 2016, 14:24 | Updated: 23 November 2016, 14:26

A jealous boyfriend, who brutally attacked his girlfriend with a knife at her flat in Cardiff, has been jailed.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Ashley Dawe was in bed with Melissa Parr when he quizzed her about seeing other men.

When she admitted to kissing another man the 23 year old jumped out of bed, grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed her.

The court heard that they'd been together for almost a year when he attacked her just after Valentines Day this year.

Prosecutor Michael Jones said: "The defendant deliberately, gratuitously and violently assaulted her, stabbing her repeatedly with a knife.

"She did say she had kissed somebody else and that was the trigger - she thought she was going to die."

Melissa was taken to hospital with "significant'' stab wounds, as well as cuts on her head and face.

The court heard that the attack has had a profound effect on her.

"Ashley has changed my life in every possible way. I want the judge to know that Ashley has taken years off me,'' she said in a victim impact statement read to the court.

Dawe fled the scene and was arrested a short time later.

Ruth Smith, defending, said Dawe had a very difficult childhood, having been removed from his family home and placed into care before turning to drugs in his teenage years.

"He is a young man who was failed by his parents and the care system. 

"He does bitterly regret the offence upon a lady who for a long while was his partner.''

Judge Eleri Rees sentenced Dawe to nine years in prison and five years on parole, calling it a "frenzied attack".

"She thought she was going to die and this was an horrendous attack upon her.

"There is a pattern of violence towards partners and your attitude to women in general.

"I have no doubt that you are dangerous and that a sentence for the protection of the public is necessary.''