Man launched horror knife attack on long-distance partner then told her mum she was dead
A brute launched a horror knife attack on his long-distance partner then cruelly called her mum and claimed she was dead.
Mark Downey had travelled from Liverpool to Newcastle to visit Joanne Downey but she ended up staying with family due to his drinking, suspected drug taking and him accusing her of being unfaithful.
Newcastle Crown Court heard when the victim returned to her home to collect clothes for work the next day, Downey was "lying in wait" with a kitchen knife which he used to cause wounds to her hand, neck and head.
Prosecutor Nick Dry told the court Miss Downey, who coincidentally had the same surname as her attacker and was not married to him, suffered a total of 16 injuries including bruising, lacerations and damage to her jugular vein before she managed to get out of her home.
Downey then called her mum and taunted her, saying: "Joanne wouldn't be playing away anymore because she's dead."Mr Dry said: "On Sunday November 10 last year Joanne Downey was found bleeding, unconscious and badly beaten in a Newcastle bus stop.
"She had been attacked in her own home and managed to escape the scene only to collapse a short distance away.
"Prior to her losing consciousness she had managed to contact a family member who had rushed to the scene and raise the alarm, along with an off-duty police officer who happened upon the scene and provided First Aid."
The court heard while people at the bus stop tried to save her life, Downey was present and shouting he "hoped she was dead". Mr Dry said Downey then made a 999 call and added: "He could be heard repeating 'I've killed her'."
When emergency services arrived at the scene Downey tried to cover his tracks by saying the victim was his wife and she had been attacked by a neighbour.
Mr Dry said Downey then called the victim's mum, taunting her and added: "He said he had done it now and how Joanne wouldn't be playing around anymore because she was dead."
The court heard the couple had been in a relationship, while living in separate cities, for around 18 months and Downey would visit the victim on weekends.
Mr Dry said the relationship had started to deteriorate because of Downey's use of cocaine and alcohol and added: "Having arrived in Newcastle on November 7 by train, he had stayed at Miss Downey's address until the Sunday albeit she only spent one night with him and chose instead to stay with family owing to his heavy drinking and suspected use of cocaine and increasingly erratic behaviour."
The court heard it was when Miss Downey went home to pick up her work clothes she was attacked.
Mr Dry said: "Upon arriving at her home she was allowed in by the defendant who then immediately attacked her, punching her repeatedly to the face as she covered it as best she could.
"She was just able to make a distress call to someone who ran to the scene and found her almost lifeless and bleeding in the bus stop."
The court heard the knife used in the attack was found under the victim's sofa, with her blood on the 12cm blade and Downey's DNA on the handle.
Downey, of Hale Village, Liverpool, was initially accused of attempted murder but that was dropped when he admitted wounding with intent.
The court heard the 52-year-old has a history of violence on his record including assaulting an ex-partner as well as a separate grievous bodily harm conviction.Judge Sarah Mallet said Downey posed a risk to the public and imposed an extended prison sentence of ten years and three months.
He will serve six years and three months behind bars before being subject to a four-year licence period on release.Nick Lane, defending, said Downey, who has a history of mental health problems, was in a "confused state of mind" and under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Mr Lane said it was a "spontaneous" assault and Downey, who had a good education and career until he started to experiment with illicit substances in his 30s, is "shocked by his behaviour".
The judge told Downey: "You have been in custody since the 17th of November 2024 and you say that you have no recollection of the day or the offence yourself.
“But you do accept responsibility by your plea and you accept the facts of the prosecution case.
"You were under the influence and that, as Mr Lane concedes, is not an excuse (but) is an explanation for potentially your behaviour afterwards."
Judge Mallet told the hearing that the victim did not support a restraining order being imposed.