Alex Gebreys 'evil' knife attack in Hartlepool left victim paralysed down one side

Alex Gebreys had denied attempted murder, but was found guilty by a jury at Teesside Crown Court following a trial.

He had admitted wounding the victim with intent to do her grievous bodily harm.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton said 30-year-old Gebreys had been convicted by the jury on compelling evidence, they having concluded that he did intend to kill the woman.

The court heard how the woman suffered serious spinal injuries and has been left paralysed down her right side and unable to care for her son.

Gebreys obtained a key to let himself into the woman’s home in Stephen Street, Hartlepool, in the early hours of November 23 last year.

He took a knife from the kitchen and then repeatedly stabbed the victim in the neck as she slept with her then aged 15-month son, who was left screaming and covered in blood.

Judge Bourne-Arton said Gebreys had shown little remorse and fled the scene. He said Gebreys “dreadful” actions had caused serious physical and psychological damage.

The judge also described how the attack had a number of aggravating features.

Gebreys, who is of Ethiopian descent, is now likely to face deportation, having not been granted permission to remain in the UK and also having also been refused asylum in Holland.

His barrister Nigel Soppitt said something had snapped in him and he had focused his “evil energies” on the victim.

The jury heard that the Gebreys, of no fixed abode, met the victim in Calais, France while both were heading to the UK to seek asylum in December 2014, and she later fell pregnant by him.

Detective Sergeant Steve Rowland, of Cleveland Police, said: “This was an extremely violent attack on a defenceless woman whilst she lay asleep in her home in the middle of the night.

“The victim’s relationship with Gebreys had recently broken down and she didn’t want him in her life any more due to his aggressive behaviour. “On the night of this incident Gebreys let himself into the property without permission, took a knife from the kitchen and stabbed the victim seven times in front of their son. This left her unable to move due to a severe injury to her spinal cord.

“Gebreys then left the address and sought refuge with friends in Middlesbrough, before a manhunt led to his arrest the same day.

“The victim has been detained in hospital ever since and is unable to live her life as she had done, and cannot care for her son as she used to.

“Her health has shown significant improvement recently, but she still has a long road ahead to get back to normality. I hope that Gebreys’ conviction and sentence provides some comfort to the victim and I wish her well with her continued recovery.”