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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Douglas Whitbread & Lottie Gibbons & Hannah Mackenzie Wood

Sick abuser stabbed girlfriend 29 times before locking her in house to die

A vicious abuser stabbed his girlfriend 29 times in a violent rampage before locking her in their house to die.

Steven Wood brutally attacked Martina Turner in the kitchen of the home they shared in in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear on May 21 last year.

Police said the 54-year-old then trapped her in the property and left her to bleed out, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Wood, who has bipolar disorder, carried out the horrific assault after the 53-year-old, known as Tina, told him she was heading out later that day.

Thinking she was leaving because she didn't want to spend time with him, Wood grabbed a knife from the kitchen drawer and ran at her from behind, stabbing her with such force that the blade broke.

Undeterred, he selected another knife and continued to attack his partner of two years, despite her begging for her life and pleading with him to call for help.

Wood told her: “I have to finish you off, I’m not going to prison for you.”

But it was only after he plunged a knife into her chest that he called his son and confessed to doing something “bad".

While the call was taking place, Tina was able to quietly whisper for help, before Wood left the property, locked the doors and hid her key.

Within minutes an emergency response had been triggered and paramedics, officers and the air ambulance were all deployed to the scene.

When officers forced entry, they found Tina hiding in a cupboard and began carrying out life-saving treatment at the scene.

She was taken to hospital with life-changing injuries and stab wounds over her entire body, including her heart, spine, and legs.

Wood was later picked up by the Marine Unit and hospitalised after trying to take his own life.

Once he made a full recovery, he was arrested and remanded in custody.

An investigation was launched by detectives from Northumbria Police’s Major Investigation Team (MIT) and Wood, who is originally from Liverpool, was later charged with attempted murder.

On Tuesday, January 19, the 54-year-old, of no fixed abode, appeared before Newcastle Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

Speaking after the hearing, the Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Louise Jenkins from Northumbria Police said: “This was an absolutely horrendous attack with levels of violence no one should ever be subjected to.

“It was only right that Wood admitted his despicable actions to the court and he will now have to accept his fate – which will include a considerable amount of time behind bars.

“Tina is an absolutely remarkable woman and what she has survived is nothing short of miraculous.

"She has a long journey ahead of her, as she continues to heal physically, mentally, and emotionally and I’m sure this attack will stay with her the rest of her life.

“I really hope today allows her to take that first step towards the closure she so desperately deserves and needs.

“This is without a doubt one of the most appalling and shocking cases of domestic abuse I have come across and I hope our communities know that we do not tolerate this type of behaviour and that violence and abuse of any kind should never be condoned.

“My message is to anyone who might be suffering in silence – please come forward and speak to us, we are here for you.”

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