JEALOUS EX-LOVER SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS FOR SLASHING AND WOUNDING
A man from Worcester, Martin Dark, aged 52, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after he violently attacked his former partner, and her acquaintance, Anthony Murphy.Dark, who had been in a tumultuous relationship with the woman for ten months, confronted her after discovering she was kissing Mr.
Murphy when he entered her home uninvited.
He had been trying to contact her following their separation about a week earlier.
The incident occurred when his former partner and Mr.
Murphy returned to her house in Goodrest Close, Worcester, after drinking in a pub.
Dark, who had brought a knife to the residence, struck her across the face four times, not realizing initially that he had slashed her from ear to ear.
He also inflicted multiple stab wounds on Mr.
Murphy during the attack.
Neighbors intervened to help the injured parties.
Dark later fled the scene but was soon detained by police, who found him on a canal towpath.
While in custody at Hereford Hospital, he attempted to escape by climbing through a toilet ceiling but was quickly stopped.
Prosecutor Simon Phillips stated that Mr.
Murphy sustained serious wounds but had returned to Ireland, appearing unaffected.
Miss Mullen sustained deep facial cuts.
Dark pleaded guilty to wounding and having a knife in a public place, as well as attempting to escape custody.
It was noted that his jealousy was a driving factor in his violent outburst, which the court described as dangerously irrational.
A psychiatrist concluded that Dark posed a threat to the public.
The judge, Robert Juckes QC, sentenced him to 16 years imprisonment, with the requirement that he serve at least two-thirds of the sentence and not be considered for parole until deemed no longer a risk to society.
