Dagenham park stabbing: Barry Peacham jailed for life

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42108414

Version 0 of 1.

A man who stabbed a City worker in the head in a "sadistic attack" as she walked home has been jailed for life.

Barry Peacham, 26, plunged a knife into Qing Qing Rao's head before stealing her handbag, mobile phone and laptop.

He was found guilty of wounding with intent and robbery following a trial at the Old Bailey, but cleared of attempted murder.

Ms Rao, 30, has been in a persistent vegetative state since the attack and may never regain consciousness.

Peacham was jailed for life with a minimum term of nine years for wounding with intent. He was also given a 12-year sentence for robbery, to run concurrently.

The gardener left Ms Rao for dead in Castle Green Park near her home in Dagenham, east London, on 13 February.

'No mercy'

The business analyst was found lying unconscious with "catastrophic" injuries.

Judge Anne Molyneux said: "This was a brutal, sadistic and cowardly attack. You were a predator and showed her no mercy."

She said the sexual and sadistic violence he subjected his victim to was particularly grave.

Ms Rao's husband, Ansgar Wenzel, has described her as a "wonderful, warm-hearted and happy girl, always friendly and happy to help anyone".

He said: "I would not miss a single day of the almost 10 years we have shared."

Ms Rao, an only child, came to Britain from China in 2002.

She studied maths at Imperial College before starting work in investment risk analysis.

Jurors were told Peacham had previous convictions for robbery, possessing an offensive weapon in public, and attacking his girlfriend.