A decorated former British Army tank commander has been sentenced to life in prison after subjecting his partner to a horrific knife attack that left her with 13 separate stab wounds.
Military Background Turns Violent
Dean Bevan-Thomas, 41, who once served as a respected tank commander, turned his military training into a weapon of domestic terror during a brutal assault on his partner at their Cardiff home. The attack was so severe that the victim's injuries were initially considered life-threatening.
The Night of Horror
Cardiff Crown Court heard how Bevan-Thomas launched into a jealous rage, accusing his partner of infidelity before the violence erupted. Prosecutors described how he stabbed the woman repeatedly with a kitchen knife, leaving her with wounds to her chest, back, and arms.
The victim's harrowing 999 call revealed the sheer terror of the situation, with operators hearing her screams of "He's stabbing me!" before the line went dead.
Heroic Medical Response
Emergency services rushed to the scene where paramedics performed life-saving treatment before transporting the victim to hospital. Medical professionals later confirmed that any one of the 13 stab wounds could have proven fatal if not treated immediately.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke handed down a life sentence with a minimum term of 12 years and 6 months before parole consideration. In her ruling, she stated that Bevan-Thomas posed a "significant risk of serious harm" to the public and particularly to women.
The court heard heartbreaking details about the lasting impact on the victim, who continues to suffer from both physical and psychological trauma, including severe PTSD and permanent scarring.
A Pattern of Abuse
Evidence presented in court revealed this wasn't an isolated incident. Bevan-Thomas had previously subjected his partner to controlling behaviour and coercive conduct, with the relationship deteriorating into what prosecutors described as "toxic and volatile."
Detective Constable Michelle Brown from South Wales Police emphasised the importance of the sentence, stating it sends a clear message that domestic abuse will be met with the full force of the law, regardless of the perpetrator's background or previous standing in the community.
