A Newtown man described as "controlling" and a "bully" will go to prison for six years after attacking his wife's lover with a knife and a monkey wrench in a fit of jealous rage.
At a sentencing hearing on Friday, August 6, Mold Crown Court was told how Mark Derwyn Andrews, of Lon Helyg, Newtown, had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He had lured his wife and her new partner to the marital home before attacking him in the kitchen with a wrench and slicing his neck with a knife.
His victim was left with lifelong "significant injuries" following the attack, including a dent to his skull and loss of hearing on one side.
The court was told how on November 26, 2020, 61-year-old Andrews had rained down blows on the victim, Nicholas Davies, while his wife fled the house in fear for her life.
Prosecuting, Mr Owen Meirion Edwards said Andrews was well known for his short temper, and had become jealous when he believed his wife had started a relationship with another man, who the couple had met as the coach driver on a touring holiday.
"Mark Andrews' behaviour become increasingly bizarre. At an early stage he had even crudely encouraged the relationship," he said.
"On November 5, Mark Andrews called Mr Davies and threatened to have men from Liverpool come down and break his kneecaps, inject him with heroin and cut his penis off.
"He subsequently threatened to sell his car and buy a shotgun, which he would use to kill her and then himself."
On the morning of the attack Mrs Andrews had been at a family member's house in Welshpool when she received a phone call from Andrews, telling her he had lost £1,000 and he needed her to come over straight away.
The victim had driven Mrs Andrews to see the defendant in Newtown at around 1pm, and during the visit Andrews asked his wife if she intended to continue her relationship with her new partner.
When she replied that she did, the court was told that Andrews fetched an orange monkey wrench from the tool shed in the garden and came towards Mr Davies "like a man possessed".
He said "you're not having my wife" before grabbing him around the neck, forcing him to his knees and repeatedly striking him with the wrench in an attack that lasted two to three minutes during which he told his wife "you're next".
The victim staggered towards the back door before Andrews said "now I'm going to cut your throat" before coming up behind him with a small bladed knife and slitting the left side of his neck.
Shocking CCTV footage shown to the court showed the aftermath of the attack, with the victim staggering across the parking area outside Andrews' house, apparently bleeding heavily.
Andrews was seen to wrap a towel around the victim's neck, before driving him at "high speed" towards Welshpool hospital, where he was initially treated for his injuries before being sent by ambulance to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
When police arrived at Welshpool Hospital Andrews held his hands out to be handcuffed and said "I'm the man you're after."
While waiting in the van he then told officers: "I admit everything, I've got nothing to hide. I admit it all and I'll have to face the consequences," adding: "I bet you don't see anything much worse than what I've done round here."
A victim impact statement from Mr Davies told the court how he had experienced repeated flashbacks to the attack, after which he said he "became scared of his own shadow".
Appearing by remote video link from HMP Berwyn, Andrews watched on impassively as the court was shown the footage, occasionally shaking his head as further details of the attack were read out. He spoke only to confirm his details were correct.
Defending, Mr Andrew Green said his client accepted that his actions meant he was facing a lengthy prison term, but that he had shown "genuine remorse" at several stages following his arrest, and said that he had demonstrated that he was sorry immediately after the incident by taking the victim to hospital.
His said his behaviour was out of character, and an "aberration" for his client.
Sentencing, Judge Rowlands paid tribute to the "forbearance" of Mr Davies, who was in court for the sentence and who he described as a "true victim" who "did nothing to deserve this attack, and nothing to cause the explosive loss of temper on the morning."
Andrews was sentenced to six years in prison and made subject to a lifelong restraining order in respect of the victim of the attack.
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