Helsby resident Raymond Graham has his sentence doubled to four years for horrifying midnight knife attack on his former wife and her partner

Jun 25 2009 by Barry Ellams, Chester Chronicle

A FORMER Regimental Sergeant Major who broke into his ex-wife’s flat as she slept with her partner and attacked them with a six-inch kitchen knife has had his sentence doubled.

Raymond Graham, 59, of Hornsmill Way, Helsby plotted his attack on Janet Graham, and got a key to her flat cut before breaking in and threatening her and boyfriend David Aspinall at 2am on Saturday, October 11.

London’s Criminal Appeal Court heard how Mr Aspinall leapt from the bed to tackle Graham, suffering a serious cut to his hand in the process.

Mr Aspinall fled the flat on Church Street, Frodsham, bleeding and naked, as Mrs Graham jumped on top of her ex-husband, holding on to the blade ‘for dear life’ in a bid to protect her partner.

She then also ran naked and covered in blood into the street.

Graham admitted aggravated burglary at Chester Crown Court in January and was jailed for two years. But his sentence was challenged as ‘far too short’ by solicitor-general, Vera Baird QC.

Three judges agreed with her, doubling Graham’s sentence to four years, saying that was ‘the very least’ he deserved for his terrifying crime.

Mr Aspinall was left with damaged tendons and nerves to his right hand following the attack, and had to undergo surgery.

Mrs Graham also sustained severed tendons in her hand and fingers and both she and Mr Aspinall have been left traumatised by the incident.

Both have suffered sleepless nights and nightmares, and Mrs Graham said she could no longer go out in Frodsham because of the incident.

Graham, who had an ‘exemplary’ 28 years’ service in the army, met Janet in 1987 and the couple had a teenage son before they split up in 2007.

Graham had copied his son’s key to Mrs Graham’s flat and used it to gain entry on the night of the attack.

The court heard the financial adviser had threatened the couple several times before. He had turned up to their place of work and warned Mr Aspinall via a text message that he should ‘watch his back’.

Lady Justice Hallett said: “It is about a man who could not take the fact that his marriage had broken down and plotted his awful revenge upon his wife and lover.

“In our judgement, these factors are...not sufficiently reflected in the sentence.”