A man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for brutally stabbing his partner multiple times after she discovered him in bed with another man. Ryan Leggett, 35, carried out the attack by grabbing a knife from a drawer and inflicting severe wounds on the woman, including to her neck and chest, as well as causing damage to her lungs and liver. The incident occurred when Leggett’s partner returned home unexpectedly and found him naked in bed with another man and drugs on November 23. The judge, Martyn Levett, stated that Leggett’s actions were driven by a desire to protect his own reputation, believing that the woman’s death would spare him embarrassment.
Describing Leggett as unpredictable and prone to violent outbursts under the influence of drugs, Judge Levett sentenced him to 27 years in prison. Additionally, Leggett will face an extended license period of three years after his release, during which he must serve two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole. Furthermore, an indefinite restraining order has been imposed, prohibiting Leggett from contacting the victim or her family.
The court heard that Leggett callously left his injured partner alone after the attack, taking her phone and locking her inside their residence in Lowestoft. The victim sustained life-threatening injuries from the eight stab wounds, including fractures and internal bleeding, inflicted by Leggett during the violent assault.
Despite denying the charge of attempted murder, Leggett was convicted by a jury in September. Prior to the trial, he had admitted to another offense of threatening someone with a knife in a private setting. The couple, who had been in a relationship for approximately four years, had a confrontation after the victim caught Leggett in bed with another man and drugs upon her return home one night.
The victim recounted how Leggett became aggressive, taking her phone to prevent her from seeking help. She described feeling shocked by his sudden violent behavior, as she had always viewed him as a kind person. Following the attack, the victim was left severely injured and in fear for her life, with Leggett ultimately being apprehended after self-harming and expressing resignation to his fate to the authorities.
In a poignant victim impact statement presented to the court, the woman detailed the lasting trauma and fear instilled by the attack, which has led to ongoing post-traumatic stress disorder and persistent nightmares. She expressed how her life and that of her family have been profoundly affected, leading her to relocate due to persistent fear and paranoia induced by the traumatic incident.