Man jailed after £5k ‘hitman’ knife ordeal on partner

MAN JAILED AFTER £5K ‘HITMAN’ KNIFE ORDEAL ON PARTNER

A man from South Wales has been sentenced to prison after orchestrating a frightening assault on his partner, during which he repeatedly pressed a knife against her throat and claimed to have been paid to kill her.

Mark Webber, aged 45, from Carmarthenshire, appeared in Swansea Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to charges including actual bodily harm, strangulation, and making threats with a bladed object.

The incident took place in May this year, mere weeks after the start of his relationship with the woman.

The court was told that Webber's violence escalated following an argument about alcohol consumption.

He assaulted the woman, then armed himself with a kitchen knife and issued threats, claiming he had received a payment of £5,000 to carry out her murder.

Throughout the attack, she was subjected to punches, kicks, headbutts, and repeated threats involving knives.

In her victim statement, she recounted living in constant fear and experiencing difficulty sleeping at night.

Judge Paul Thomas KC described Webber’s actions as a “brutal and sadistic attack” on someone who was in a brief relationship with him, calling him a dangerous individual.

Webber, who has a prior record of violence against partners, received a sentence of two years and eight months in prison.

He is expected to serve half of this term before being released on licence.

Additionally, an indefinite restraining order has been imposed, prohibiting him from making contact with his victim.