Carlton Colville man jailed for 30 years for attempted murder of partner
Ryan Leggett has been sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court for a violent knife attack.
A 35-year-old man from Carlton Colville has been sentenced to 30 years after being convicted of attempting to murder his partner in a violent knife attack.
Ryan Leggett, of Lowestoft Road, appeared in Ipswich Crown Court today, 4th November, where he was given 27 years’ imprisonment and an additional three years on licence. He must serve at least two-thirds of the prison term before being eligible for parole.
Leggett was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order, barring him from making contact with the victim or her family.
The attack occurred between 1am and 2am on 23rd November 2024 after the victim, a woman in her 30s, returned home from work earlier than expected to find Leggett in their bed with another man. Following a heated argument, Leggett subjected her to a violent assault in which he stabbed her multiple times with kitchen knives while she was lying on a bed. He then locked her in the house as he fled.
The victim sustained eight stab wounds during the attack, including injuries to her chest, abdomen, and liver. She was treated for a punctured lung, internal bleeding, and fractured ribs, with one hand scar causing ongoing discomfort and numbness to the back of her head.
Leggett was arrested after handing himself in later the same day. He was charged on 25th November 2024 and was found guilty of attempted murder on 18th September this year following a six-day trial, with the jury delivering a unanimous verdict.
In her victim personal statement read to the court, the woman shared how she is now suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, nightmares, and self-consciousness regarding the scars caused by the attack.
She said: “I truly thought Leggett was somebody I would marry, but I now realise I was in love with somebody who I didn’t actually know at all.”
Detective Constable Sophie Moore, who worked on the case, described Leggett’s actions as “frenzied” and praised the victim for her resilience:
“I am pleased by the sentence handed down by the court today which reflects the severity of this incident.
“Ryan Leggett subjected the victim – someone who loved him and thought she would spend the rest of her life with him – to a frenzied attack of extreme violence, that it is a miracle he did not kill her.
“This was his reaction for having been caught in bed with another person. It is impossible to comprehend how someone could act in this way because of something he had done wrong.
“I want to pay tribute to the victim for her bravery in working with us to secure this conviction. The court process was clearly a difficult and overwhelming one for her, but she navigated it with great resilience and determination.”
Judge praised the bravery of those who helped save the victim’s life, including police officers and paramedics who attended the scene, while describing Leggett’s actions as "cowardly."
Suffolk Constabulary reaffirmed its commitment to tackling domestic abuse and violence, prioritising the safeguarding of victims and prosecuting offenders.