A man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for stabbing his partner multiple times after she discovered him in bed with another man. Ryan Leggett, 35, attacked the woman with a knife, causing severe wounds to her neck and chest, along with damage to her lungs and liver. The incident occurred when Leggett’s partner returned home unexpectedly and found him naked in bed with another man and cocaine on November 23.
During sentencing, Judge Martyn Levett described Leggett as unpredictable and dangerous, particularly when under the influence of drugs. Leggett was also given a three-year extended license period upon his release, with a requirement to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole. Additionally, an indefinite restraining order was issued, prohibiting Leggett from contacting the victim or her family.
The court heard that Leggett left the victim severely injured after locking her inside the property in Lowestoft. She sustained eight stab wounds, including life-threatening injuries to her chest, resulting in a fractured rib, a punctured lung, and internal bleeding. Leggett, from Carlton Colville, denied attempted murder but was convicted by a jury, having earlier admitted to threatening someone with a knife in a private setting.
The victim, who had been in a relationship with Leggett for four years, confronted him upon discovering the situation in their bedroom. After a confrontation, Leggett proceeded to stab her multiple times with two knives, leaving her fearing for her life. Another resident in the house raised the alarm, leading to Leggett’s arrest later that day.
In a victim impact statement presented in court, the woman revealed the lasting trauma she experienced, including post-traumatic stress disorder and ongoing nightmares. She expressed how the attack had profoundly affected her and her family, forcing them to relocate due to fear and paranoia. She described feeling marked by the incident and lamented the deceitful nature of her relationship with Leggett.
