An Englishman who attacked his fiancee with a knife when she refused to have sex with him has been jailed for three years. Mark Copeland (39), formerly from Folkstone, pleaded guilty yesterday at Armagh Crown Court to wounding Ms Shirley Elaine Woodside (35), a mother of two, with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm.
The attack in her mobile home at Kilkeel Road, Annalong, in Co Down, early on May 13th, was overheard by the victim's two children, aged 12 and 14, who were in another room. Ms Woodside spent four days in hospital after being slashed in the face, stomach, right leg and both hands.
Passing sentence, Judge John Petrie told Copeland it was clear the injuries were serious and would leave considerable scarring. After the incident, Copeland went on the run and was found hiding five days later in a derelict house.
Mr Charles Adair QC, defending, termed the couple's relationship as "short and stormy" after they met in an English pub nine weeks earlier. He said the relationship was doomed from the outset.