A British court sentenced a 41-year-old man to 16 years in prison for severely beating his partner, which resulted in her spine being broken and permanent paralysis. The attack occurred in March 2025 at a home in Oldham, after the 34-year-old victim informed the perpetrator of her intention to break up. The prosecution described the man as having a Jekyll and Hyde personality, appearing caring on the outside but violent at home. The injured woman, who uses a wheelchair, described in an emotional statement how the attack destroyed her life.

16-Year Prison Sentence

The Manchester Crown Court sentenced 41-year-old Craig Walmsley to 16 years in prison for attempted murder. The man pleaded guilty. He had previously been convicted for other acts of violence against women.

Victim Paralyzed After Attack

The perpetrator broke the spine of the 34-year-old woman, causing permanent spinal cord damage and tetraplegia. The woman uses a wheelchair, depends on constant care, and cannot raise her child independently.

Attack Following Decision to Break Up

The direct trigger for the attack was the woman's statement that she wanted to end the relationship. The incident occurred at their home in Oldham in March 2025. According to accounts, the perpetrator first beat the victim, then repeatedly slammed her head against the floor.

Perpetrator's Dual Personality

The prosecutor, describing the motivation, stated the man acted out of a desire for control and a sense of humiliation. Relatives and neighbors perceived him as nice and caring, while behind closed doors he was aggressive and intimidating.

A Manchester court sentenced 41-year-old Craig Walmsley to 16 years in prison for a serious attack on his partner that left her paralyzed. The man pleaded guilty to attempted murder. The attack occurred in March last year at their apartment in Oldham, in northwest England. The direct cause of the aggression was the 34-year-old woman's statement that she wanted to end the relationship. According to trial materials, Walmsley first punched the victim in the face, then grabbed her by the neck and repeatedly slammed her head against the floor. This resulted in a broken neck and spinal cord damage, causing permanent tetraplegia, or quadriplegia. Since then, the woman has used a wheelchair, is completely dependent on others for care, and cannot look after her child independently. In an emotional statement read in court, the victim described how the attack „shattered her world” and deprived her of everything she loved, including the ability to parent independently. Domestic violence in the United Kingdom is a serious social problem. According to charity statistics, from 2019 to 2024, on average, one woman was killed by a partner or ex-partner every three days. A rise in domestic violence reports was noted particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns. The prosecution presented Walmsley as having a so-called Jekyll and Hyde personality – perceived by neighbors and family as nice and caring on the outside, but as an aggressive and controlling tyrant at home. As prosecutor Michael Blake emphasized, the man acted out of „humiliation and a desire to maintain control.” Judge Nicholas Dean, in his sentencing remarks, stated that the attack was „extremely brutal” and displayed a „high level of cruelty.” The perpetrator had a prior conviction for assaulting another woman, which the court considered an aggravating circumstance. The woman spent months in a hospital and rehabilitation center after the attack. Her family organized a fundraiser to adapt her new home to the needs of a person with disabilities.

Mentioned People

  • Craig Walmsley — 41-year-old perpetrator of the attack, sentenced to 16 years in prison for the attempted murder of his partner.
  • Nicholas Dean — Judge at the Manchester Crown Court who issued the sentence in the case.
  • Michael Blake — Prosecutor in the case who presented the charges against the accused.