A FORMER investment banker who brutally stabbed his girlfriend in what he said was an attempted murder-suicide has been jailed for 12 years.
Luke Warner, 35, plunged two knives into his victim – one into her eye and another into the back of her head – in a horrific attack which left her needing life-saving surgery.
He then self-harmed in an attempt to take his own life before paramedics arrived and treated the pair at their home in Witham, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.
A judge said it was “absolutely incredible” and “almost unbelievable” the victim was not killed and did not lose her sight permanently.
Lauren Holmes, prosecuting, said the incident took place in May this year when Warner did not take prescribed drugs for ADHD and autism.
However, the court heard he had self-diagnosed other mental disorders and sought medical advice from private companies so he could take other medications.
Mrs Holmes said the defendant attacked his girlfriend during a psychotic episode and stabbed her with such force that the handle had broken off the blade he dashed into the back of her skull.
She said: “She had a knife with a five-inch blade stuck into her right eye.
“She was put into the back of an ambulance.
“She spoke to one of the paramedics and said the defendant, who has autism and ADHD, had not taken his medication and stabbed her in the eye and to the back of her head.
“She also had defensive wounds on her left forearm.
“A broken blade was embedded in the back of her head.”
Warner himself had suffered cuts to his neck and thighs when he self-harmed.
In police interview, he said, “I’ve wanted to kill her for the past few years”, adding he had been angry with his girlfriend after she made a comment about his daughter.
Warner, of Goda Close, Witham, admitted one charge of attempted murder.
Nick Bonehill, mitigating, said Warner was born in South Africa and grew up in foster care and did not meet his father until he was 15.
He added the defendant later studied engineering at university and started work as an investment banker when he graduated.
He said: “He came to England in September 2020 on a work visa – he had the opportunity as a vice president of capital management at a capital firm."
Mr Bonehill added Warner showed "abject sorrow" for carrying out the attack.
Sentencing Warner to 12 years in prison, Judge Mary Loram KC told Warner he was “not entirely at the mercy of your mental illness” because he had self-medicated, but she accepted he did not pose a risk to others when he is taking the correct drugs.
She said: “It is clearly the case you have been medicated in the past after periods of psychosis.
“You have been diagnosed in the past with bi-polar disorder and you have been detained under the Mental Health Act.
“You have responded well when under anti-psychotics.
“Problems have arisen when you have decided you know better than the doctors treating you.
“You have even gone to a private company to have diagnoses confirmed.”
Warner will serve two thirds of his 12-year sentence before being released on licence.
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