Man who stabbed ex-partner jailed for 14 years

Aaron Marsden Booth could be heard smashing his way through the front door of his ex-partner’s Glossop home on the recording of her terrified 999 call to police.

He then beat her semi-conscious before the woman, now aged 31, managed to run from the property only to be knifed again in front of officers.

Booth held the knife to his victim’s throat as the officers, armed only with batons and capture spray, pleaded with him to not harm her further.

The 27-year-old finally walked away from his victim, returning to her address and forcing armed police into a three-hour standoff.

After pleading guilty to wounding with intent, Booth was sentenced to 14 years in prison as his victim bravely watched on from the public gallery.

Judge Richard Mansell QC praised her in helping bring Booth to justice and ensuring that others would not become a victim at his hands.

He said: “You have been brave in the extreme. You have not just protected yourself; you have protected other women.”

His victim told officers how Booth was charming when they first met in 2017 and - despite warnings from friends about his previous behaviour – began a relationship with him early the following year.

She came to realise why her friends were concerned about Booth as his abusive behaviour came to the fore.

In May of 2018 Booth began drinking to excess, as well as taking drugs, and once home would abuse his victim.

Judge Mansell said: “When at home, you would bully and degrade her by spitting, flicking cigarettes or throwing household items at her, as well as calling her names.

“You pursued her by turning up at her home and the beauty salon where she worked and contacting her friends, but then left her alone for about a month.

“However, you met up with her in July 2018 and persuaded her that you would change and so she agreed to start seeing you again.

“Very soon you reverted to the same kind of behaviour.”

In the September of that year Booth threatened to kill his victim before wrapping both his hands around her neck as if to strangle her.

His victim tried repeatedly to break of their relationship. However, each time Booth would bombard her with calls and texts and force her, through emotional blackmail, to retract her complaints made against him.

The evening prior to the assault, in February of this year, Booth’s victim had been enjoying a night out with her friends - during which he was caught on CCTV following her from pub to pub. In the footage Booth could be seen becoming increasingly angry as the night went on, before finally his victim had to lock herself in a toilet to get away from him.

After Booth, formerly of High Street West, Glossop, was ejected from the pub, his victim left the bar and went home to bed before he turned up at her front door demanding to be let in.

His victim called police as he attempted to kick the front door down.

Judge Mansell said: “She was crying and pleading with the operator to hurry up because you were trying to break in.

“After a few moments, there is a huge bang and she lets out a blood-curdling scream of terror as you smashed a window and climbed into the house.

“You immediately set about beating her up, knocking her to the ground and punching her repeatedly about the face.

“All that could be heard was her moaning in pain.

“This was a sustained and brutal assault on a defenceless woman.”

Leaving her in a semi-conscious state on the floor with multiple fractures to her face, Booth grabbed a knife from the kitchen.

Realising he had a knife in his hand, his victim managed to run from the house but Booth caught up with her stabbing her repeatedly in the legs and side.

Police officers who attended the scene witnessed the stabbing and urged Booth to put the knife down – instead he grabbed his victim, holding the knife to her throat and telling officers he would kill her if they came any nearer.

Eventually the officers managed to talk Booth away from the woman – and he walked back to the house in Sumners Place, Glossop.

Locking himself in the property - armed officers were forced into a three hour standoff with Booth before he eventually threw his weapons out of the window and was arrested.

After being charged with attempted murder, Booth pleaded guilty to a section 18 assault – wounding with intent – and was sentenced to 14 years in prison at Manchester Crown Court. He must serve at least nine years in prison before he can apply for parole and once freed must serve six years on licence.

He was also handed an indefinite restraining order which prohibits Booth from contacting his victim. Should he be convicted of breaching any of the terms of the order he could be sentenced to five years for each breach.

DC Graham Millar, the officer who investigated the incident, said: “I would first like to praise the bravery shown by his victim.

“The incident in February was the culmination of months of physical and mental abuse by Booth.

“His behaviour ground down a strong, independent, young woman – causing her to lose more than two stone in weight as Booth’s campaign of abuse continued.

“This all came to a head in February. In what should have been a place of safety, she pleaded for her life as he beat and stabbed her.

“Anyone hearing that call cannot help but feel a part her terror as he smashed his way into the house.

“It is testament to her bravery and strength that was able to bring charges against Booth.

“She showed that same strength, dignity and bravery throughout the court process – even when it appeared she may have to give evidence against Booth – and ended in her sitting in court watching him be jailed for 14 years.

“I hope the sentence handed to Booth brings a degree of closure to this chapter in her life.

“I would also like to take this moment pay tribute to the officers who were first on the scene that night. Armed with only their batons and captor spray they were faced with a situation that could easily have led to a far more tragic ending.

“Their actions on that night were, quite simply, incredible. They are an absolute credit to the force and I am proud to call them fellow Derbyshire Constabulary officers.”