BEDFORD MAN GETS NEARLY 17 YEARS FOR VIOLENT AXE ATTACK ON EX-GIRLFRIEND
A man attacked his ex-girlfriend with an axe in her home in Bedford in April 2021 after she told him she wanted space.Charlie Arnold, aged 21, carried out the assault in Kempston after she said she was seeing someone else.
He previously admitted attempted murder and causing actual bodily harm to the victim's stepfather.
Arnold, of Conway Crescent in Bedford, was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison.
The attack left his former partner with permanent scarring and a dent in the back of her head, according to Luton Crown Court.
Prosecutor Stefan Weidmann explained that Arnold and the victim had a turbulent on-and-off relationship for four years.
It was revealed that Arnold had threatened to kill her in December 2020, saying he would "enjoy caving her head in." Despite completing a domestic violence course earlier in 2021, Arnold visited her home again.
The victim stated in court that she saw Arnold feeling depressed and pulling on gloves, then revealing an axe from his trousers.
She recounted that Arnold pushed her to the door and then hit her repeatedly with the axe, including to her head, leading her to think she was going to die.
Her stepfather managed to wrest the axe from Arnold but was injured during the struggle.
Arnold subsequently called 999 from his mother's home, saying, "I have tried to kill someone and I want to hand myself in." Earlier that day, police had been called to Arnold's residence over concerns for his welfare, but he appeared to be feeling better when questioned.
In mitigation, defense lawyer Chantelle Stocks described Arnold as "a vulnerable young man with a complex history of mental health" and stated he showed genuine remorse.
Judge Lynn Tayton QC remarked that Arnold planned the attack and did not understand why he did this to her, emphasizing that he had planned to kill her with an axe and gloves.
Arnold was found to have borderline personality disorder and cannabis use disorder, and a restraining order was issued banning him from contacting the victim, her mother, or stepfather.
