Paul Maddock, 35, has been jailed for stabbing his former partner while she slept in her own bed in Lancashire. The attack occurred at 6am on the morning after he had visited her home.
Attack Details
The victim had gone to bed at 7pm the previous evening, feeling unwell, and expected Maddock to leave. Instead, he remained and launched a horrific knife attack while she was asleep. She was jolted awake by severe pain in her lower back and realised she had been stabbed.
During the altercation, she tried to prise the weapon from Maddock but suffered a fractured hand. Prosecutor Holly Nelson told Preston Crown Court that the victim could smell alcohol on her former partner. She managed to dial 999 and was instructed to lock herself in the bathroom. When police arrived, she emerged, but Maddock ran into the bathroom and was tackled to the ground by armed officers.
Legal Proceedings
Maddock, of Bannisters Bit, Penwortham, admitted grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, actual bodily harm (ABH), and assaulting a police officer. The officer was kicked while being escorted to the cells.
In her victim impact statement, the woman said she remained baffled as to why her former partner carried out the attack. She experienced difficulties with movement for several weeks and required assistance from a friend at home. She was left fearful of venturing outdoors and felt uncomfortable using kitchen knives for everyday tasks such as preparing fruit.
Sentencing
Defence barrister Ellie McManus outlined Maddock's mental health difficulties, noting that his guilty pleas spared the victim from a trial. Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi, passing sentence, stated: "She described how she hasn't been able to get over the fact you behaved in that way on that day. You don't need me to tell you that your actions that day not only had an impact on her but your children." She added: "She was vulnerable - she was asleep in her own bed when you stabbed her using a highly dangerous weapon."
The recorder highlighted a prior pattern of violence, noting that Maddock had previously been sentenced for assaulting his partner and breaching a restraining order. She classified him as a dangerous offender, posing a significant risk of harm to future partners.
Maddock was handed a 57-month sentence for GBH with intent, with a two-year extension added to his licence period for public protection. He received a concurrent 12-month term for ABH and a further two weeks for assaulting an emergency worker.
