Medway: Man Jailed For Trying To Kill Wife

14 July 2014, 16:29

A man who stabbed his estranged wife 12 times has been jailed for attempted murder.

Today (14 July), after appearing at Maidstone Crown Court, Peter Wood, formerly of Glimmer Way, Wainscott, was imprisoned for ten years and will serve another four on licence.

The judge classified Wood as a dangerous offender under the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

He had pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder after he attacked the 34 year old with a rolling pin and a knife in the early hours of 4 February this year.

Wood had separated from his wife some months previously but they both stayed in their Wainscott home in separate rooms.

His former spouse had gone to bed when she was set upon by the 44 year old, who hit her over the head with a rolling pin and tried to strangle her.

She screamed for help and her eldest son fought his father off, only for Wood to chase his victim out into the street and stab her 12 time to her chest, back, neck and thigh.

Her son again fought Wood off and neighbours called the police. Officers and paramedics rushed to the scene to find his victim covered in blood and with multiple injuries, including a punctured lung. She was rushed to hospital and has since made a full recovery.

Officers arrested Wood in the kitchen of the house where he showed them the bloodied kitchen knife he had used to stab his wife.

Detective Sergeant Stephen Biddiss, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: 'It is clear that Peter Wood was trying to kill his wife and it is only through good luck and the intervention of her son, who showed tremendous courage, that she is alive and has made a full recovery today.

'I have no doubt that had Wood had his way, she would be dead and buried, all due to what he perceived as a betrayal when she entered into a new relationship.

'He not only attacked her in the bedroom, striking her on the head and attempting to throttle her, but he chased her out of the house and attacked her once more, this time with the intention of fatally stabbing her to death.

'The sickening violence and the substantial force Wood used left her with incredibly serious injuries, many of which were inflicted in front of the couple's children.

'Our officers wasted no time in arresting and charging Wood and examining the circumstances that led up to this incident.

'The entire family has shown tremendous courage throughout this ordeal and our thoughts are with them today. I hope Wood's jail sentence will go some way to providing closure and allowing them to move on with their lives.

'It was the first time Kent Police had been called to reports of domestic abuse at this household, although Wood's behaviour in the months before the attempted murder was that of an abusive and violent former husband.

'Domestic abuse is historically an under-reported crime, but there is a huge amount of support available for victims and they should be reassured they will be treated with compassion and sensitivity.'

Domestic abuse can be emotional, sexual, financial, or threatening and controlling behaviour from a partner; it is not just physical abuse. It can occur in lots of different relationships, whether that be husband and wife, same sex relationships or teenage relationships. To find contact details of the support agencies working to keep you safe and opening times for the Kent One Stop Shops, visit www.domesticabuseservices.org.uk.