Woman whose ex-girlfriend hit her with claw hammer says attack was inspired by Netflix's 'You'

A woman whose ex-girlfriend attacked her with a claw hammer claims she was inspired by Netflix’s toxic serial killer drama “You”.

Chloe James, 27, was watching the streaming service thriller when she threatened her partner: “If you ever finish with me I’ll turn into him,” referencing the program’s murderous main character, Joe.

But her threats came true when she attacked Chloe Coehlo, 21, two years later after being dumped.

Ms Coehlo, of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, said her partner begged her for one last countryside walk with their dog Ted.

She was then attacked with a claw hammer as she fell to the ground “covered in her own blood”.

James claimed she was acting in self-defence but pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on the day she was due to stand trial.

Suspended sentence an 'absolute joke'

Swansea Crown Court heard last year how when Ms Coehlo’s back was turned James retrieved a claw hammer from the boot of the car and hit her over the head with it repeatedly.

The attack was only stopped when by chance another car drove past.

Her ex-partner has now blasted her 22-month suspended sentence - and said: “It was an absolute joke.”

She said: “I was utterly devastated when she got a suspended sentence.

“It was an absolute joke. I felt like I had been assaulted all over again.”

The horrific attack came two years after the couple had been watching the hit Netflix series “You” together.

The show featured Joe, played by Gossip Girl actor Penn Badgley, who becomes obsessed with Guinevere Beck and attacks her partner with a hammer.

Ms Coehlo said her partner turned to her while watching the first series - and said: “If you ever finish with me I'll turn into him.”

The attack by James took place two years later in September 2020 at an isolated spot near Llangennech in Carmarthenshire.

Ms Coehlo said: “I now realise Chloe was being serious that night we watched You.

“We went for a walk and got back to our cars. She begged me to go for a drive and tried to kiss me and told me she loved me.

“But I pushed her away and told her it was over between us for good.

“She told me she had something in her car for me but was embarrassed to give it to me.

“Then she told me to close my eyes. Seconds later I felt this searing pain in my head - like my skull was being smashed in.

“I fell to the ground and could see she had a claw hammer in her hand. I was covered in my own blood. I thought I was going to die.”

'If I can't have you, no one else will'

Ms Coehlo said James told her: “If I can’t have you, no one else will”, as she attempted to make a run for it.

She managed to stumble towards the headlights of an oncoming car before the driver stopped.

Ms Coehlo was later taken to the Prince Phillip Hospital in Llanelli and treated for bruising and lacerations to her ears and scalp.

James, of Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, was arrested the next day before she was sentenced in October at Swansea Crown Court.

Defending Andrew Evans said she was genuinely remorseful for what happened.

James was handed a 22-month sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay £750 to her victim in compensation.

Ms Coehlo added: “She was obsessed with me. I now have constant headaches and horrible flashbacks of that night, and trusting someone again has been very, very difficult.

“I paid a high price for having a relationship with her. I am just glad I am still alive.”