A Newcastle man has been jailed for an extended sentence of seven years and six months after cutting his partner's face twice with a Stanley knife. Shaun Ellis, 37, of Eastgarth, Newcastle, appeared at Newcastle Moot Hall via video link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for wounding with intent and possession of a blade.
Ellis had pleaded guilty to the offences on the basis that he could not remember causing the injuries. The cuts were so deep they penetrated the muscle, leaving the woman fearing she would be killed, and she had to be rushed to hospital to have the wounds stitched.
Attack in Ashington
The court heard that on March 13 this year, the victim was dog-sitting at an address in Ashington. Ellis was "unhappy" because another man was also at the property. Caroline McGurk, prosecuting, said: "He wanted [the victim] to leave the house with him, she refused. He punched her repeatedly in the face, ripped her hair, kicked her arms and pulled her head by her hair."
McGurk added: "He then put a Stanley blade to her throat, took it to her face and cut it to the left and right side, through to the muscle." The court also heard the woman's hand was cut in the incident.
Victim impact
In a victim statement, the woman said she suffered abuse at the hands of Ellis "regularly" during their five-year relationship. She said: "I really thought he would kill me. I suffer from panic attacks and my confidence has been knocked because of the scars he caused me. He's scarred me for life."
The court was told Ellis had 38 previous convictions for 52 offences and had committed previous batteries on the same woman. He had also been jailed for offences of grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Defence and sentence
Jane Waugh, defending, said Ellis has a mixed-personality disorder and mental health issues which mean he "can't always remember things" while in a "heightened state of trauma". She said he had been taking benzodiazepines and alcohol on the night of the attack. Waugh added: "He very much regrets causing those injuries. He has described himself as a bit of an a***hole and is still struggling with what he did that night."
Recorder Richard Stubbs sentenced Ellis to an extended prison sentence of seven years and six months, with three years of that sentence to be served on licence.
