Gurnos man jailed for knife attack on neighbour’s flat

Lee Palmer, 40, of Ash Crescent, Gurnos, has been sentenced to four years in prison at Merthyr Crown Court after being found guilty of aggravated burglary and possessing a knife in a public place.

The court heard that on January 17, 2024, Palmer entered his neighbour’s flat whilst brandishing a small folding knife with a three-inch blade during a social gathering. As the victim approached her double doors to investigate a disturbance, Palmer forcefully opened the door and threatened her with the knife.

Witnesses described how Palmer approached the victim with the knife held dangerously close to her neck, shouting threats including “I’ll stab you” before one of her friends intervened to protect her. The confrontation lasted several minutes before Palmer retreated to his own flat, where he continued to make threats.

Police arrived swiftly following reports from concerned neighbours. Palmer was arrested after a short standoff in his upstairs flat, where officers discovered the knife used in the incident and a quantity of cannabis.

The court imposed a five-year restraining order to protect the victim and key witnesses. Palmer had a history of threatening behaviour towards the victim, including previous incidents of vandalism and intimidation.

In her victim impact statement, the victim described the profound effect the attack has had on her life. She said: “I feel uneasy being alone in the flat, and often ask friends to come around just for company and support.” The stress ultimately led to her dismissal from work due to her inability to concentrate.

PC Ross Dixon said: “I commend the victim for her bravery and resilience in the face of such adversity. I would encourage anyone facing similar threats to come forward and seek help, to make sure that violence such as this does not go unchallenged.”