Knifeman jailed for 12 years for terrifying attack (From Warrington Guardian)
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Knifeman jailed for 12 years for terrifying attack
8:00am Thursday 21st March 2013 in News
Knifeman jailed for 12 years for terrifying attack
A WOMAN feared her husband had already been killed by a knifeman who walked into her home and repeatedly stabbed her.
Warrington Crown Court heard on Monday how during the attack the knife broke - leaving her with anxiety at what might have happened had her attacker’s assault not been cut short.
Elvijs Vanags, aged 20, had only moved into his Swindale Avenue home that day after arriving from his native Latvia when he struck.
He soon frightened his new housemates on September 16 when he picked up a kitchen knife and prepared to attack them with it.
After a struggle Vanags walked out of the house with the knife and was spotted by residents nearby making slashing motions as he walked.
He walked up to the door of his victim’s home and let himself in .
Vanags found the woman typing on her laptop and placed the blade next to her neck.
Merion Lewis-Jones, prosecuting, said: “She was typing away when she became aware of something against the right side of her neck.
“She hadn’t heard anyone come inside the house.
“She remained calm, stood up and swung her laptop up in the direction of the person behind her.
“He started stabbing at her. He was saying things but she couldn’t make out what he was saying.
“Then she heard a snapping noise then the knife broke and fell on the floor.”
The victim went to the kitchen to call the police.
Her husband was alerted to his wife’s screams for help and found her covered in blood.
She was left with deep wounds to her chest, side, shoulder and hand and is still undergoing treatment.
But the attack has left her with intense anxiety and she was deeply distressed about having to come to court to give evidence until Vanags pleaded guilty to affray, possession of an offence weapon and wounding with intent on the day of the trial.
The victim’s daughter has since moved back home and her husband had to retire early to care for his wife.
In interview Vanags, who has no previous offences, said he could not remember the incident.
Sarah Griffin, defending, said: “He apologises to both the victim and her family. He is extremely ashamed of what he has done and he’s very sorry for what has inflicted.
“He knows he needs to be punished for this offence.
“The reason he came to this country was to work, he had a job arranged and planned to support his disabled mum who lives in Latvia.”
But sentencing him to 12 years in prison Judge David Hale also recommended him for deportation.
He said: “Your presence in this country is detrimental to society.”
DC Simon Fisher, who investigated the incident, said: “This was a vicious and unprovoked attack on the victim in her own home. To be threatened with violence and have your home invaded in this way is a terrifying experience.
"The victim sustained serious injuries and is still receiving ongoing treatment.
"The defendant has been handed a lengthy sentence – I hope that this will help to bring about a degree of closure for the victim and in some way help in her recovery.”
Comments(23)
wilbill
says...
9:04am Thu 21 Mar 13
This country is far too soft
kazrobo
says...
9:05am Thu 21 Mar 13
Paris
says...
9:10am Thu 21 Mar 13
kazrobo wrote:Here here!
Can he not be deported to Latvia and spend his time in prison there instead of the UK taxpayer paying the bill?
SAC_in_Warrington
says...
9:39am Thu 21 Mar 13
LeanneM82
says...
9:46am Thu 21 Mar 13
Absolute waste of space!
gerrumonside
says...
11:06am Thu 21 Mar 13
SAC_in_Warrington wrote:my thoughts exactly SAC:
How did he get in to someone's house, while they are there, without them knowing?
if someone managed to scale my 8 foot perimeter wall without cutting themselves on the Razor wire, then make it across the vast open lawns without tripping the sensor pads or heat detecting infared cameras,and avoiding the dobermans, and then made it across the moat and then entered the house through the deadlock doors and windows again without setting off the alarms....I too would be suprised just like you.....
live_wire
says...
6:13pm Thu 21 Mar 13
old-codger
says...
6:45pm Thu 21 Mar 13
6:13pm Thu 21 Mar 13
Why are these smackheads allowed in this country.”
Because Latvia is a member of the EU having joined in the year 2004. We cant stop them from coming here,
The EU wont allow us to stop them,
I,m not even sure about the deportation order being valid but dont quote me on that,
old-codger
says...
6:56pm Thu 21 Mar 13
A life sentence with a 12 year tariff would have seen him do at least 12 to 15 years.
SAC_in_Warrington
says...
6:59pm Thu 21 Mar 13
gerrumonside wrote:Since when have social housing in orford had such luxurious safety features? The reported information from the victim was, “She hadn’t heard and "anyone come inside the house." and "Her husband was alerted to his wife’s screams for help". Must have had the door open / unlocked.
SAC_in_Warrington wrote:my thoughts exactly SAC:
How did he get in to someone's house, while they are there, without them knowing?
if someone managed to scale my 8 foot perimeter wall without cutting themselves on the Razor wire, then make it across the vast open lawns without tripping the sensor pads or heat detecting infared cameras,and avoiding the dobermans, and then made it across the moat and then entered the house through the deadlock doors and windows again without setting off the alarms....I too would be suprised just like you.....
Freeborn John
says...
12:57pm Fri 22 Mar 13
Lock yourself into your own house at all times or some loony Latvian will walk in and stab the heck out of you.
This country is going worse.
SAC_in_Warrington
says...
1:20pm Fri 22 Mar 13
Freeborn John wrote:Why do you think that this is the realistic solution?
Well, there it is.
Lock yourself into your own house at all times or some loony Latvian will walk in and stab the heck out of you.
This country is going worse.
Freeborn John
says...
3:04pm Fri 22 Mar 13
SAC_in_Warrington wrote:Got a better one?
Freeborn John wrote:Why do you think that this is the realistic solution?
Well, there it is.
Lock yourself into your own house at all times or some loony Latvian will walk in and stab the heck out of you.
This country is going worse.
SAC_in_Warrington
says...
3:34pm Fri 22 Mar 13
Freeborn John wrote:Have you? Then let's hear it.
SAC_in_Warrington wrote:Got a better one?
Freeborn John wrote:Why do you think that this is the realistic solution?
Well, there it is.
Lock yourself into your own house at all times or some loony Latvian will walk in and stab the heck out of you.
This country is going worse.
However he will be treated like any other person committing such offences in the UK, whether we like it or not!
Freeborn John
says...
5:23pm Fri 22 Mar 13
Hows that?
SAC_in_Warrington
says...
5:42pm Fri 22 Mar 13
Freeborn John wrote:Good idea , i agree, and here is hoping the Latvians in this case also reciprocate.
Since it's reasonable to assume that anybody who goes into strange houses and stabs the residents has come to the notice of the authorities before, I'd check peoples criminal records before they were allowed loose in the UK.
Hows that?
SAC_in_Warrington
says...
5:44pm Fri 22 Mar 13
live_wire wrote:Because in all probability he was probably disguised, as an alcoholic.
Why are these smackheads allowed in this country.
Freeborn John
says...
7:22pm Fri 22 Mar 13
She was stabbed to death on her way to school by a stranger, an insane man who, like Mr Vanags, had invited himself into the UK.
Tighter border control can't come too soon.
live_wire
says...
7:54pm Fri 22 Mar 13
arthur thomas
says...
7:11pm Mon 25 Mar 13
SAC_in_Warrington
says...
9:06pm Mon 25 Mar 13
arthur thomas wrote:This is not on the agenda he is a human being, just needs to behave like one. Also seems to have needed some form of mental health treatment.
he should be put to sleep he is obviously a danger to the decent public or should be used for vivisection purposes.
Why do you think that euthanasia and vivisection should be used?
PageA
says...
10:23am Tue 26 Mar 13
live_wire wrote:Why stop there, why do we warringtonians have to deal with scousers...why do we mods have to deal with rockers...why do you city supporters have to deal with evertonians...a stranger's just a friend you haven't met Livewire. Lets get to work on community cohesion. People are people no matter where they are from. We all have the potential to be good or bad, isolation and alienation never brings out the best in people. I'm not condoning his actions just saying his nationality has nothing to do with his crime.
Exactly. Do we not have enough **** of our own to deal with, without putting up with half of eastern europes?
Daz@SankeyviaOrford says...
8:13am Thu 21 Mar 13