Nigel Roach gets life for trying to kill partner
A man has been jailed for life for the attempted murder of his partner in Cardiff.
Nigel Roach, 49, broke into Christine Lewis's home in Llanrumney last August and tried to stab her with two kitchen knives before being Tasered by police.
Ms Lewis, 48, told Cardiff Crown Court: "I really thought he was going to kill me."
Speaking after the case, police praised her bravery and said she had been through a "truly terrible ordeal".
The trial was told that Roach tried to murder his partner of 16 years after seeing text messages from a male colleague.
He launched the attack after a £400 drinking binge, the court heard.
Ms Lewis, who dialled 999 during the incident, suffered wounds to her left shoulder and arm, chest and hands during the frenzied attack.
Roach told jurors he was trying to "show her some pain" and had no intention of killing her.
But Judge Eleri Rees described it as a "frenzied and determined attack" which could have been a lot worse had it not been for Ms Lewis "fighting for her life" and the swift action of police.
Roach will have to serve a minimum of eight and half years before he can apply for parole.
Speaking after the case, Ms Lewis said that she had suffered mental abuse from Roach for many years.
"It had been going on for a long time," she said. "He was drinking too much and I didn't do anything about it."
Lisa James, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Wales, said after the hearing that Roach attacked Ms Lewis in the "most horrific and violent manner".
"Following his arrest, Roach sought to downplay the seriousness of what he had done," she said.
"But Christine's brave testimony, coupled with the truly shocking evidence from her 999 call, told the true story of what took place."
Also speaking after the case, Det Sgt Chris Grey from South Wales Police said: "Christine is an incredibly brave woman and has gone through a truly terrible ordeal.
"I hope today's sentencing will bring some sort of closure for her and her family.
"I also hope that other women, who may also be in abusive relationships, can have the courage to come forward and talk to the police."