Man stabbed Girlfriend in Head after threat to “Take her Life”

Rajesh Bhakta, aged 46, of Salford, was jailed for two years and four months after he threatened to kill his girlfriend before stabbing her in the head.

Manchester Crown Court heard that the couple had been in a “chaotic” relationship for around five years.

Prior to the attack on April 5, 2020, 25 calls had been made to the police about domestic disputes between the couple and multiple restraining orders had been put in place.

However, the prosecutor Rachel Cooper revealed that the victim was “terrified” of Bhakta.

On the day of the attack, the woman visited his flat because of his persistent phone calls after she had received a benefit payment.

Ms Cooper said: “On this occasion, she decided she no longer wanted to be with him so gathered his belongings and took them with her to his address.”

But when she arrived, Bhakta launched an attack on his partner in the corridor.

A security guard witnessed the incident and called the police, but Bhakta dragged his girlfriend into his flat and locked the door.

He continued to attack her in the bedroom and pulled out a black sheath knife from under his pillow.

Ms Cooper said: “The complainant describes the defendant having the knife then saying ‘I am going to kill you’.”

Bhakta chillingly told his girlfriend:

“I’ve took away your smile and now I am going to take away your life.”

Ms Cooper added: “This relates to a previous assault where he knocked out her teeth.”

The victim attempted to defend herself as Bhakta tried to stab her in the neck. As she turned away, he stabbed her in the head.

She then went unconscious before waking up to find Bhakta “cuddling her on the bed”.

The woman told Bhakta that if he let her leave, she would not call the police. When he let her leave, she ran from the flat and police found her nearby.

Ms Cooper: “They described her as being extremely upset and very nervous.

“She did not want to speak to them and claimed that she had fallen down the stairs.”

Bhakta repeatedly tried calling his girlfriend before she eventually admitted that he was responsible for the attack.

She was taken to hospital and her head wound was stitched up.

In her victim impact statement, she said she thought Bhakta was going to kill her.

She said:

“I will be worried when he is released from prison that he will come round and kill me or send his friends to kill me.”

“He has ruined my life.”

Following the attack, Bhakta was arrested and gave a “no comment” interview to police.

Bhakta admitted one count of section 20 wounding. He has 27 previous convictions including battery, harassment and possession of an offensive weapon.

His defence solicitor Max Saffman argued that Bhakta made a “serious of bad choices and bad judgements”.

“He has been diagnosed with several mental health disorders, he accepts that his drug addition has contributed to that.”

Mr Saffman asked the judge for a suspended sentence, citing that his girlfriend was “far from blameless in the toxicity of this relationship”.

But Recorder Nick Clarke QC said that only an immediate custodial sentence would be suitable after Bhakta “bruised, battered and bullied” his girlfriend.

He told the defendant: “I acknowledge your past and personal problems. I am aware of your mental health problems and I have concern about time in custody during the Covid period.

“But you have 27 previous convictions, many for assault, causing damage and having a weapon.

“The complainant has been the victim of your criminal behaviour of a long period of time.

“She has been bruised, bullied, battered.”

“Whenever the court has tried to protect her this has failed and all matters of punishment have been tried to give her a break from your brutality.

“This is not a case for another suspended sentence.”

Bhakta was jailed for two years and four months. Manchester Evening News reported that he also received an indefinite restraining order, banning him from any contact with the victim.