Face of dangerous man who slashed ex-partner with Stanley knife while she slept

A man attacked his ex-partner with a Stanley knife while she was asleep, a court has heard. Leon Cooper, 27 and of Warwick Road, Somercotes, Derbyshire, slashed his girlfriend twice while she was sleeping in bed.

The 27-year-old pulled the duvet cover off her and slashed her thigh, inflicting a 15cm wound, and then slashed her again with the same blade, causing a 6cm cut to her jawline. This stretched from her lower ear area down towards her neck.

The attack took place at an address in Eastwood on November 5, 2023. The victim was covered in blood following the attack but managed to escape from the house.

She fled to a friend's home and emergency services were called. The woman was treated in hospital and Cooper was arrested at an address on Warwick Road, Somercoates.

He was charged and appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday, July 4, after pleading guilty to wounding without intent. He was jailed for a total of five years and 10 weeks.

Judge Steven Coupland, who handed Cooper an extended sentence, said the attack was "inexplicable, deliberate, and came out of nowhere". Detective Sergeant Laura Gooch, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Cooper is clearly a dangerous individual with a propensity for violence, so I’m pleased he has now been removed from our streets.

"This was a very serious and deliberate assault on an extremely vulnerable victim who was asleep in bed. I hope it gives her some degree of comfort that Cooper has been held accountable and is now safely behind bars. I’d also like to thank her for the bravery she has shown throughout our investigation."