Ex jailed for 'vicious' attack'

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A nurse has been jailed for trying to stab his ex-partner to death three days after she ordered him to leave.

Marion Powell, 52, of Pembroke Dock, only just survived the "determined, planned, vicious" attack by Kelvin Bull-De'ath, Swansea Crown Court heard.

She suffered 16 stab wounds to her chest, arms, leg, head and jaw after he broke into her home in July.

Bull-De'ath, 50, who worked at Withybush Hospital was jailed for 11 years after admitting attempted murder.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, told the court Miss Powell had been in a two year relationship with Bull-De'ath, who lived with her in Charles Thomas Avenue.

She later described the relationship as "mental torture" and told police how on July 14 she asked him to leave.

Bull-De'ath did as he was asked, but immediately began planning her death, Mr Jones told the court.

I have come to kill you. I can't live with you and I will certainly not live without you. So this is the end. You are dead Bull-De'ath to Miss Powell

Three days later he armed himself with a blow torch, hammer and chisel and at 0300 BST headed for her home, having first written a letter to his family.

He spent a full hour breaking in, eventually using the blow torch to melt a section of double glazing until a window panel fell out.

Miss Powell recalled how she awoke to find him sitting on her bed holding a knife and shining a torch into her eyes.

He told her: "I have come to kill you. I can't live with you and I will certainly not live without you. So this is the end. You are dead."

Bull-De'ath then stabbed her so many times the knife broke, Mr Jones said.

This was a determined, pre-planned and vicious attack upon her in order to kill her Mr Justice Evans

After the knife fell apart he took Miss Powell downstairs and continued the attack using two knifes from the kitchen.

The court heard that Bull-De'ath began complaining that the knives were blunt and he asked Miss Powell where he could find something sharper.

She told him where and while he was looking she made a telephone call to her sister in law Ann Powell and her husband David, a special constable.

As they arrived Bull-De'ath escaped from the back of the house. He was tracked and found by a police dog.

The court heard that Miss Powell would be left with permanent scars from some of the 16 stab wounds and may need plastic surgery.

Passing sentence Mr Justice Evans said Miss Powell had been deeply affected by the attack and could no longer live in the house or continue to work.

"This was a determined, pre-planned and vicious attack upon her in order to kill her," he said.

"You broke into her home and carried out the attack when she was asleep in bed."