Man jailed 26 years for 17-stab attack on ex-partner in Hampshire

Anwar Ashraf, 39, was sentenced to 26 years after stabbing his ex-partner 17 times at her workplace in Whiteley. A Winchester Crown Court judge called the attack ferocious.

Anwar Ashraf sentenced to 26 years for attempted murder in Whiteley stabbing

A man has been jailed for 26 years after stabbing his ex-partner 17 times in what a judge described as a "ferocious" attack at her workplace, ca.news.yahoo.com reports.

Anwar Ashraf, 39, formerly of Southsea, was found guilty of attempted murder following a trial at Winchester Crown Court. The attack on Carla Skeites took place at 3600 Parkway in Whiteley, Hampshire, on 30 April 2025.

Judge Paul Dugdale imposed an extended sentence with a five-year licence period and issued a lifetime restraining order. Ashraf had previously pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife, but denied any intention to kill Skeites.

Prosecutor Giles Bedloe told the court that Ashraf had become "obsessed" with Skeites, accusing her of "cheating" on him despite the relationship having ended several months earlier and the victim not being in a new relationship.

Before arriving at her workplace, Ashraf had "bombarded" Skeites with 49 phone calls. He was seen "circling in the shadows" outside the building as he waited. After a brief exchange in which she told him to leave, he hugged her without warning and followed her back into the lobby as she attempted to walk away.

Judge Dugdale told Ashraf the assault demonstrated "the level of ferocity that causes this court real concern." He added: "It's a miracle that she survived, it's not clear if she will ever be near to how she was before and it's not clear if the pain she suffers every day will go away."

The court also heard that Ashraf, after the attack, asked police how they would react if their own partner had been unfaithful.

Simon Clark of the Crown Prosecution Service said Ashraf "sought to downplay his actions by saying he only wanted to scare the victim, but the nature and scale of this attack showed a clear intent to cause fatal harm."

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Skeites described spending 10 days in hospital and not knowing whether she would survive emergency surgery. She said she continues to experience flashbacks and nightmares and is receiving counselling for anxiety. "I know I should hate Ash for what he has done, maybe in time I will but right now I feel more sadness than hate," she told the court.

The trial also heard that Ashraf had a daily drinking habit involving a bottle of whisky or vodka and had travelled to India and Dubai in attempts to address his alcohol dependency.

Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)