OFFENDER JAILED FOR STABBING EX-PARTNER AFTER INTERNET ROMANCE TURNS VIOLENT

Crazed Dean Lovell, aged 36, was sentenced to an indefinite jail term after attacking his ex-partner Joanne Curley in her home in Bowburn, a suburb of Durham. The attack was brutal, with Lovell inflicting five stab wounds on Joanne, one of which punctured her lung. Joanne, a 32-year-old single mother, narrowly escaped death by using her pillow to shield herself during the assault. Following the attack, Lovell calmly requested a cigarette before leaving the scene. It was revealed during court proceedings that Lovell had a history of violence, including a previous similar assault on another partner in Guernsey in 1992, where the victim managed to disarm him without serious injury. The judge, David Hodson, sentenced Lovell to serve at least two and a half years before he could be considered for release, emphasizing that he would not be freed until the probation service confirmed he was no longer a risk. Joanne expressed her distress, stating, "His barrister spoke about remorse and said he still loved me. That is the scariest thing I've heard in my life." She also voiced concerns about her daughter's safety and described the experience as horrific, mentioning her hopes that the assessment process before any potential release would be thorough. Joanne met Lovell over a year before the attack via the internet, but she realized his moods were unpredictable and controlling, which led her to end the relationship in August last year. Two months after their separation, Lovell forcibly entered her home after her nine-year-old daughter left for school and assaulted her. Lovell then traveled to Durham and surrendered to police. He was originally charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, which was accepted by the prosecution.