1. ITV Report

Jailed: Man who cut wife's throat in 'horrifying' Northamptonshire attack

Ionut Topsac Credit: Northamptonshire Police

A man has been jailed for 20 years for trying to kill his estranged wife by cutting her throat in a 'horrifying' attack on a Northamptonshire farm.

Ionut Topsac crept into a caravan where his victim was sleeping before strangling, slashing and stabbing her. She only survived thanks to hours of emergency surgery.

Northampton Crown Court heard 35-year-old Topsac sent text messages gloating about what he'd done.

“This was a horrifying case in which the victim very nearly lost her life at the hands of her jealous and violent ex-partner."

– DS Mark Webb, Kettering CID

Topsac travelled from his home in Staffordshire to the farm in Lutton in the early hours of September 7 last year.

He began to strangle her as she slept, before inflicting a six-inch wound to her throat and stabbing her in the head and hands as she fought for her life.

Topsac fled and was arrested nearby three hours later, while his victim was rushed to hospital in Peterborough for hours of emergency surgery. She was left with lasting physical and psychological effects.

Topsac admitted attempted murder and was jailed for 20 years. He will then serve a further five years on extended licence.

Topsac was also given an ongoing restraining order banning him from contacting his victim in any form.

Investigating officer DS Mark Webb, of Kettering CID, said: “Topsac had already committed numerous assaults on her and as a result of this domestic violence she found the courage to end the relationship, only for him to continue to threaten her online and ultimately make this attempt on her life.

“She only survived thanks to the quick thinking of the friends who came to her aid, and from evidence we recovered after the incident it became apparent that Topsac initially believed he had been successful in killing her.

“Tackling domestic abuse is a priority for Northamptonshire Police. This is often a hidden crime where victims feel trapped in a cycle of abuse in their own homes, but the police and our partners are here to help and support victims, as well as ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

“Today’s sentence reflects the severity of Topsac’s attack and I hope it goes some way to help the victim continue to move forward positively in her life.”