Boyfriend jailed for meat cleaver attack

Ian Linton was jailed at Cardiff Crown Court

A man who attacked his ex-girlfriend with a meat cleaver and almost chopped off her hands has been jailed for seven years.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Vicky Noble, 32, had to undergo an eight-hour operation to save her hands after the attack by Ian Linton who had lain in wait at her home in Newport, south east Wales.

Linton had been released early from jail

The court was told Miss Noble, the mother of the 40-year-old's two children, will never regain full use of her hands. Her left wrist was cut through two-thirds of its width in the attack.

She also suffered a fractured skull and stabbed wounds to the chest and neck after Linton, from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, tried to cut her throat.

It was the second time he had attacked Miss Noble, and Linton had been released early from jail when he carried out his second brutal assault in May.

Prosecutor Christopher Williams said: "Linton had been released from a 12-month prison sentence for attacking Miss Noble with a knife."

"Not surprisingly, the relationship has been strained since that time - she made it clear to Linton that he should not visit her.

Babysitter

The court heard that after the couple had a row over the telephone, Linton drove from the Midlands to Miss Noble's home in south Wales.

She could feel blood trickling down her face and she was saying' Oh my God, I'm going to die

Christopher Williams, prosecuting

He broke in and threatened the babysitter not to tell Miss Noble he was there.

"Miss Noble came home from a night out and saw Linton come down the stairs," said Mr Williams.

"She ran into the street but he struck her from behind.

"He aimed blows with the meat cleaver at her head.

"She could feel blood trickling down her face and she was saying' Oh my God, I'm going to die'.

"She put her hands up to defend her face and head. She remembers thinking to herself that she didn't care if she lost her arms or hand, at least she would still be there for her children," Mr Williams added.

Neighbours called an ambulance, and paramedic Nigel James described Miss Noble's injuries as the worst he had seen inflicted by another person.

A major police hunt was launched for Linton before he gave himself up to police in Bristol.

'Terrifying ordeal'

Defending Linton, Christopher Quinlan, said the couple's relationship was 'highly emotive and destructive'.

"He is sorry. If his victim is ever able to accept it he offers a genuine apology."

Jailing Linton who admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, Judge John Griffith Williams QC said: "It is difficult to put into words how terrifying that ordeal must have been for Miss Noble.

"The attack needs to be considered in the context of the earlier incident with a knife which caused her multiple lacerations."

Miss Noble, who was in court to see Linton sentenced, said after the case: "He is evil."

"He looked at me and laughed as he was led down. I am just trying to put it all behind me."