Woman jailed for masterminding attack on ex who was tied-up, beaten and stabbed

A woman has been jailed for eight years for planning an attack on her former boyfriend.

Marie Thompson, 46, organised a visit to her ex in Newcastle and during her stay opened the door and let two masked attackers in when he was out of the room.

During the violence on July 26, 2017, she was ‘simply standing watching’, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The victim was threatened with ‘torture’, doused in alcohol so attempts could be made to set him on fire and was left unconscious in a pool of blood.

More than £7,000 in jewellery, including high-value watches and chains, and cash was taken during the raid, as well as a cheque for £19,400, which was never cashed.

In a text message she sent before the attack, Thompson told a friend she ‘hoped he still had something to rob’, ‘I dread to think what they are going to do to him’ and ‘he deserves what was coming to him’.

The judge Mr Recorder Anthony Kenrick told her: ‘When he left the room you unlocked the door and let in the two men.

‘What followed was a horrific and very prolonged robbery where weapons were produced and used.

‘Significant injuries were caused to him.’

The court heard an initial attempt to carry out the attack plot a week before the violence in July 2017 had to be abandoned as the victim had visitors, including children, at his house.

Thompson arranged to go to the victim’s house for a drink and when she arrived at his house she let the two assailants inside when he went to the toilet.

Prosecutor Lee Fish told the court: ‘He was stabbed in the leg and stomach, they threatened to kill him if he didn’t co-operate.’

The court heard when the victim started losing blood and pretended to pass out Thompson told the attackers to leave him alone.

But Mr Fish added: ‘Despite the fact he was completely still, one of the men was standing on his hands and they tied his feet and linked it to a rope around his hands.

‘He was kicked as one of the men shouted “speak”.’

The victim managed to get outside and summon help once Thompson and the attackers had left.

Police found him ‘unconscious in a pool of blood’ when they arrived.

The victim was taken to hospital for surgery to the knife wounds and still suffers the effects of the attack three years later.

In a victim statement, he said he needed over 60 stitches and has been left with post traumatic stress.

He added: ‘It is still affecting me.’

The court heard one of the alleged attackers, who was Thompson’s current partner, is believed to have fled to Jamaica and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Thompson, of Rugby, Warwickshire, admitted conspiracy to rob on the basis she participated in the plan to rob, that would inevitably involve some violence being inflicted but the ‘extreme’ nature of what happened went beyond what she had foreseen.

She has been sentenced to eight years behind bars.