Obsessed Welsh stalker stabs himself in the neck with a steak knife

A mother has recounted the horrifying moment her obsessed stalker stabbed himself with a steak knife in the neck outside her home.

Wendy Miles, 55, lived in fear as her ex-boyfriend Keith Richmond, 59, began to follow her and hide in bushes beside her flat after their year-long relationship ended.

The mother-of-one and former Army medic told a court how Richmond launched a terrifying stalking campaign which culminated in him attempting to take his own life.

Wendy Miles, 55, was living in fear when her ex-boyfriend Keith Richmond, 59, (pictured together) began to follow her and hide in bushes beside her flat after their year-long relationship ended

Richmond, from St Nicholas near Cardiff, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months and handed a five year restraining order by magistrates

Richmond, from St Nicholas near Cardiff, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months and handed a five year restraining order by magistrates

Ms Miles struck up a relationship after Richmond sent her a Facebook message, Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard.

Wendy finally plucked up the courage to break off the relationship

Wendy finally plucked up the courage to break off the relationship

But she broke it off with the pub landlord after 12 months when he became controlling during their relationship.

Magistrates heard his behaviour escalated over a number of months and left Ms Miles feeling ‘disturbed.

He repeatedly turned up at her home in Barry, south Wales, sent her Facebook messages and left voicemails on her phone.

The besotted ex would also whisper down the phone: ‘If I can’t have you then no one else will have you either.’

Ms Miles recounted her terrifying ordeal after Richmond pleaded guilty to harassment and was given a five-year restraining order to stay away from her.

She said one day she left her home to see him sitting in his car with a steak knife sticking out of his throat.

She said: ‘There was bright red blood everywhere and he was drifting in and out of consciousness.

‘It was horrific. I called an ambulance, then I went back downstairs to try to stem the bleeding.’ 

Wendy told of her horror after Richmond pleaded guilty to harassment and was given a five-year restraining order to stay away from her

Wendy told of her horror after Richmond pleaded guilty to harassment and was given a five-year restraining order to stay away from her

Prosecutor Monique McKevitt said: ‘She made it clear she wanted no more contact from him and wanted to move on.

‘She went on to form another relationship but Richmond could not accept that.’ 

Richmond missed his jugular vein by millimetres and was lucky to be alive after the shocking incident in April last year.

He was released from hospital three days later and was soon back outside Ms Miles’ flat.

Richmond, from St Nicholas near Cardiff, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months and handed a five year restraining order by magistrates.

After the hearing, Ms Miles said: ‘As the months passed I noticed Keith liked to be in control.

‘He would get jealous when I talked to his regular customers in his pub and accused me of fancying them.

‘I began to see less and less of my friends and he would even tag along to a night out at the bingo.

‘He hated me spending time with my army friends, a lot of them male, so I stopped doing that too.’

Ms Miles told the court she was unable to spend time with friends, as Richmond took control of her life

She said: 'I don't believe any restraining order will stop him if he wants to stalk me'

Ms Miles told the court she was unable to spend time with friends, as Richmond took control of her life

Ms Miles said she finally plucked up the courage to break off the relationship but Richmond said: ‘I can’t live without you.’

She added: ‘One night in my flat alone I saw Keith outside my flat. He was looking right up at my window.

‘I watched as he’d walk and then hide behind a bush.

‘I don’t believe any restraining order will stop him if he wants to stalk me.

‘I just hope he has learned his lesson and moves on with his life and leaves me to lead mine in peace.’

 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk