Man jailed for 17 years for the attempted murder of his wife in North Yorkshire
Stephen Carr followed his wife around with a bow and arrows before shooting at her and stabbing her
Last updated 2nd Jul 2025
A man from York has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for the attempted murder of his wife.
Leeds Crown Court heard Stephen Carr followed his wife around with a bow and arrows before shooting it at her. He then stabbed her six times while she was on the phone to the police.
Carr's CCTV footage that had been installed to monitor his elderly mum who had health issues captured some of the attack on his wife on the 8th September at their home in Strensall, York last year.
The court heard how the 57-year-old and his wife had an argument - and how told her "you are going to die tonight"
The victim had managed to quickly close a door when met with her husband drawing his bow, which he then fired at the door with his wife standing behind it.
Fearing a continuation of an attack, the victim managed to get a number of arrows and break them to prevent him using them on her.
She tried to evade her husband by fleeing to the bedroom and taking cover.
She hid under the duvet where Carr fired three shots with unbroken arrows that he managed to find.
Jurors heard how he'd drank one litre of vodka one evening when an argument started - which "resulted in violence"
The prosecution said the attack attributed to her losing her job and being socially isolated.
The victim was treated at the scene by police officers, before paramedics rushed her to Leeds General Infirmary where she had surgery. She spent a number of days in hospital before she was able to be sent home.
Detectives from North Yorkshire Police’s Major Investigation Team led an extensive investigation which explored Carr’s intentions and actions that day.
Carr was interviewed and when presented with the evidence, he failed to provide any account for the sustained and repeated attack on his defenceless wife.
The case went to court and Carr, who had been remanded in custody since his arrest, pleaded guilty to the alternative offence of causing grievous bodily harm but denied attempted murder.
At his trial which concluded at Leeds Crown Court on Monday 2nd July 2025, Carr did eventually give evidence about his recollection of events, where he told the court he followed his wife around the house drawing the bow to scare her into leaving him alone, as he stated she was controlling him.
He suggested that this was a build-up of pressure of working full time, his caring responsibilities for his elderly mother and his dependence on alcohol.
He said he never intended to kill his wife and that if he wanted to kill her with the bow, his skills as an archer would allow him to do so.
When asked about the repeated use of a knife causing six significant stab wounds to her back, Carr suggested he had “blacked out”.
The prosecution was able to show that this violent attack with multiple weapons was by someone who was overwhelmed, drunk and angry, and developed an intention to kill his wife having lost all ability of self-control.
The jury found Carr guilty of attempted murder and he was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to 17 years in prison today.
Carr has written an apology to his wife, and the court heard how she has retained her support for him
Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Sygrove said:
“Domestic violence takes many forms - the fact Carr has ultimately been jailed for attempted murder underlines just how serious incidents can be.
“It’s hard to imagine the terror the victim felt being shot at with a bow and arrows, then set on with a knife by her own husband. This was also a harrowing incident for our officers and control room staff who responded to the 999 call, and their professionalism ensured Carr was promptly located and arrested before anything further could happen.
“While we apply high levels of discretion when we deal with domestic violence, it’s also important we raise awareness and highlight the work we do to tackle it, so people have the confidence to come forward."