POLICE have welcomed a 13 year jail sentence for a man who slashed his former fiancee in an attempt to kill her in broad daylight.

Liam John Jones stabbed Rebecca Williams, 21, to her body and slashed her across the neck in a 'fit of jealous' rage, on June 18 last year in frenzied attack on the pavement outside her father's home in Newton Green, Llanfaes, Brecon.

The couple's four year relationship had broken up a month before the early evening attack, carried out at 6.30pm.

The 22-year-old kitchen worker, of Trecastle, admitted attempted murder and was jailed for 13 years at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. He was told by the sentencing judge he had shown 'courage' in admitting his guilt.

Following the conviction Detective Inspector Iwan Jones, of Dyfed Powys Police, said the force welcomed the 'substantial' jail term.

He also said he hoped the sentence would encourage victims of domestic violence to report abuse to police.

DI Jones said: "We welcome today's sentence for Jones. It's a substantial term of imprisonment and is appropriate for this crime, which was premeditated and vicious.

"It also sends a strong message that domestic violence will be dealt with severely by the courts and will hopefully offer encouragement to others suffering from domestic violence that they can come forward to us and report it."

During the sentencing hearing Judge Justice Wyn Williams said in the month before the attack there had been an 'uneasy peace' between Jones and Ms Williams, but there had been no 'violence of note' despite their arguments.

Tom Crowther, defending, said Jones was a man who'd forsaken his friends for Ms Williams, and that his life was 'dominated' by his family ambitions.

He said since he was first taken in custody, following his arrest just an hour or so after the attack, Jones had matured and was continuing to mature and accepting his guilty had given him 'hope' for the future.

He said: "These are difficult circumstances and young people can't be expected to have developed ways to have dealt with these adult situations.

"The defendant knows his actions have caused great emotional and physical pain."

Justice Williams acknowledged Jones had shown remorse by admitting his guilt, and said he was unlikely to commit a violent offence again.

The judge said he would 'discount' Jones' sentence, which could have been between 12 to 20 years, by more than the 10 per cent normally awarded for guilty pleas made on the day of trial.

Though Jones, who has no previous convictions, had only admitted attempted murder on the morning his trial was due to start he had previously indicated he would plead guilty to a lesser charge.

Sentencing Jones to 13 years, of which he will serve half his sentence in prison, Justice Williams told him: "The courts can never be seen to condone jealous rage and its consequences but equally cannot ignore the month prior had been incredibly stressful and you were depressed about the break up.

"You have no previous convictions and are still a young man. Most importantly you pleaded guilty to a very serious offence. It does take courage to plead guilty to attempted murder.

"By pleading guilty you have shown genuine remorse and provided comfort to your victim, it is appropriate for this court to mark that by more than the orthodox 10 per cent (discount) normally awarded for a guilty plea on the day of trial.

"I take into account all of the mitigating circumstances."

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