SHEFFIELD WOMAN BRUTALLY ATTACKED BY BOYFRIEND RECEIVES 2-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE
A woman who was beaten so badly by her boyfriend, Craig Weldon, to the point where she believed she was going to die, has publicly criticized the sentence he received.Rachel Mitchell, who was attacked by Weldon during a day out in York on May 14th, described a brutal assault where Weldon, who she had been in a relationship with for five weeks, suddenly snapped.
The attack occurred after they had enjoyed drinks at the Diamond Villa Hotel.
Weldon, who is just five feet tall, reportedly gripped Rachel's throat and struck her face with his fists, causing her to fall to the floor.
During the attack, Weldon’s glasses fell off, and while he searched for them, Rachel fled.
She escaped the hotel wearing only a T-shirt with blood pouring down her face, running into a nearby Londis shop where staff saw her covered in cuts, blood, and with ripped nails.
Emergency services responded to her injuries, which included the removal of three front teeth, a scar near her eye, and an injury to her eye eyelid which she fears may be damaged.
After the assault, Weldon used Rachel’s bank card to withdraw £200 and then returned to his bail hostel.
The court sentenced Weldon to two years in prison on July 5th, after he pleaded guilty to wounding his girlfriend, criminal damage, fraud, and theft.
An indefinite restraining order was also issued to prevent contact with Rachel.
Weldon, who had been released from prison on licence a few weeks before the attack, had previously served time for attacking another woman in Sheffield in 2017, which resulted in a brain hemorrhage and fractured cheek and skull.
Rachel, who wished to remain anonymous initially, attended York Crown Court to witness Weldon’s sentencing but was not called into court and missed the opportunity for closure.
She expressed her inability to look in the mirror or forget the attack, recounting her pain and trauma, and warning other women about avoiding abusive partners.
Rachel shared her fears about Weldon potentially attacking another woman after his release, emphasizing that no woman is safe with him, and urged victims of domestic violence to leave abusive relationships for their safety.
