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Man’s brutal attack on sisters stopped by ‘heroic’ 9-year-old boy who told him to get out

David Fairweather attacked two sisters in an ‘unprovoked frenzy of brutal violence’ at a Christmas gathering. (South Yorkshire Police)
David Fairweather attacked two sisters in an ‘unprovoked frenzy of brutal violence’ at a Christmas gathering. (South Yorkshire Police)

A man who brutally attacked two sisters at a house after he was invited over for a Christmas drink has been jailed.

David Fairweather punched, choked and stabbed the women at one of their homes in Cudworth, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, in December 2021.

The older sister laid on top of her younger sibling in an attempt to shield her from the blows but Fairweather continued his attack on both women.

The older sister was stabbed three times herself and sufferred injuries to her liver, lung, bowel and bladder.

Fairweather, 44, only stopped his attack, which South Yorkshire Police described as an “unprovoked frenzy of brutal violence”, when the women’s young sons, aged eight and nine, came downstairs and saw them lying in a pool of blood before calling 999.

Fairweather was later found by police hiding in a nearby church yard and arrested.

The younger sister was discharged from hospital the day after the incident, but has suffered significant psychological trauma ever since and has not been able to return to the home with her sons.

The older sister remained in hospital for almost five months and spent 15 days in a coma.

Sheffield Combined Law Courts England UK
David Fairweather was jailed for 16 years at Sheffield Crown Court. (PA/Alamy)

Fairweather, formerly of Barnsley, admitted two counts of wounding at Sheffield Crown Court and has now been jailed for 16 years.

He was ordered to serve 12 years in jail and four year on licence.

Detective Sergeant Becky Robinson, investigating, described the attack as “the stuff of nightmares”.

She said: "Even as experienced detectives, there are some cases which will stay on your mind for a very long time to come – and this is one of them.”

DS Robinson said the actions of the two boys who alerted emergency services to the attack was “simply heroic”.

She added: “The nine-year-old boy told Fairweather he was phoning the police and to get out, which caused him to flee the address.

"Despite the unimaginable situation, he was able to give enough detail for police and ambulance crews to attend the address quickly and both victims were rushed to hospital."

Following Fairweather's sentencing, DS Robinson said: "While nothing can heal their trauma, I am satisfied with today's sentence and the knowledge Fairweather will be exactly where he belongs for many, many years to come."