Man sentenced for attempted murder of woman

A man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempted murder after his assault on a woman left her with life-threatening injuries.

Paul John Watts, 36, attacked the woman at Cinderford Close in Paulsgrove in Portsmouth last October.

The woman has has no memory of the assault and is still recovering from her injuries.

Watts, who will also serve an extended license period of five years, was found guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court on Tuesday.

Hampshire Constabulary said it was called out shortly after 15:10 GMT on 31 October after concerns were raised for a 37-year-old woman.

She was taken to Southampton General Hospital with "serious, potentially life-threatening injuries" and discharged from hospital earlier this year.

Police said during sentencing the judge told Watts that he left her bleeding and unconscious, and "left her for dead".

In a statement read to the court, her sister said: "She will never be the same again because of what Paul did that day, but with support from family and friends, her and her children will find their new normal.

"I have no doubt in my mind about how far she has come, the strength and courage she has shown throughout and that she will continue to progress and will not let what happened that day define her."

Senior investigating officer Elizabeth Brunt said: "The victim's injuries in this case were shocking, her recovery has been exceptional given the trauma that she endured.

"Thankfully she has no memory of what happened last October.

"Watts subjected the victim to violence that nobody should have to face and I'm pleased that this sentence underlines the gravity of what he did."

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