James McKenna, 58, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for attempting to murder his ex-partner Joanne Sidaway, 49, whom he repeatedly stabbed in Carmarthen Park. The attack occurred on January 29 after their recent breakup; Sidaway survived with multiple stab wounds but required medical attention. McKenna fled into nearby woods and evaded capture for three days before being hospitalized for suspected frostbite, leading to his arrest. During the trial at Swansea Crown Court, McKenna admitted planning the assault beforehand, expressing anger over the end of their relationship.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
- Published
A man who repeatedly stabbed his ex-partner in the chest then ran away, launching a four-day manhunt, has been jailed for 24 years.
asserted
who → publish → years
Joanne Sidaway, 49, screamed as she was attacked by James McKenna, 58, in the bushes of Carmarthen Park in January.
After hiding in a wood near Carmarthen for three days without food or water, McKenna was arrested in a hospital as he awaited medical treatment for suspected frostbite.
asserted
he → scream → frostbite
McKenna previously pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, but was found guilty of attempted murder in July.
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McKenna → plead → July
On Friday, Judge Paul Thomas KC said the attack was "wholly calculated", and that McKenna had left Sidaway to die in the bushes.
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McKenna → say → bushes
McKenna had waited for Sidaway to enter the park on 29 January with her dog, before crouching down in the bushes, ready to launch his attack.
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Sidaway → wait → attack
A jury at Swansea Crown Court heard McKenna was "angry" after their relationship ended a few months earlier, and it was "luck" that she did not die, with her winter coat helping to save her.
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coat → hear → her
During the trial, he told the jury he had put the newest, sharpest knife from his kitchen in his bag that morning, with the intention of using it to hurt Sidaway.
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he → tell → Sidaway
He said he wanted to cause Sidaway "serious harm" but not kill her.
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he → say → her
"I felt she was reluctant to re-engage with me, and not even say hello," he said.
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he → feel → me
As she approached, he stabbed her multiple times, in what he agreed was "a rage of anger".
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he → approach → anger
He told the court he was "shocked" at what he had done.
"
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he → tell → what
I was aiming for her shoulder area and the upper body.
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I → aim → area
I didn't want to kill her."
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I → want → her
He said the attack was interrupted after Sidaway told him to stop and screamed, and a neighbour shouted.
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neighbour → say → him
Neighbour Susan Edwards told the court during the trial in July she heard "high-pitched screaming" and the "bushes shaking" before a man ran away.
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man → tell → screaming
Sidaway phoned for an ambulance and said: "I've been stabbed by my ex-partner...
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I → phone → partner
he's been stalking me"
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he → stalk → me
McKenna fled the scene following the attack, and said he dumped his rucksack, with the knife, at an allotment near the park after he ate a yoghurt there.
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he → flee → yoghurt
He then walked to Bronwydd, a village about three miles (4km) north of Carmarthen, along the River Gwili.
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He → walk → Gwili
"I found some shelter, a quiet woodland away from the road," he said.
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he → find → road
"I was devastated and kept having flashbacks."
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I → devastate → flashbacks
He said he was there for three nights, before he travelled via taxi and bus to Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion.
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he → say → Aberystwyth
Police bodycam footage was shown to the jury of Sidaway sitting on her doorstep with paramedics, covered in blood.
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Sidaway → show → blood
The jury heard there were 17 areas of damage to Sidaway's coat, and were shown images of her "extensively blood-stained" clothing as well as injuries to her chest, arm and hand.
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jury → hear → chest
Sidaway did not wish to share a victim personal statement.
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Sidaway → wish → statement
Sentencing McKenna, Thomas said: "You had been in a relationship with a woman of whose vulnerabilities you would have been fully aware.
"
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you → sentence → woman
When she decided, as was entirely her prerogative, that she no longer wanted to be in a relationship with you, you reacted, as you had done in the past, immaturely, and more significantly with violence.
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you → decide → violence
"You stalked her in the park in Carmarthen that morning, then you returned in the afternoon with exactly the same intention.
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you → stalk → intention
It was planned, and it was wholly calculated.
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it → plan → ?
You stabbed her no fewer than 11 times.
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You → stab → times
That lady only survived because it was a cold day and she as wearing five layers under a thick coat.
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it → survive → coat
But after you did that, you left her to die in bushes in a park.
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you → do → park
"You only handed yourself in when you developed frostbite from sleeping rough."
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you → hand → frostbite
He said McKenna was "full of self-pity".
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McKenna → say → pity
The court heard McKenna had been convicted of assault against an ex-partner in August 2016, after pushing her neck and pulling her hair.
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McKenna → hear → hair
Prosecution barrister James Wilson said it demonstrated that he was "unwilling to accept the end of that relationship".
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he → say → relationship
Caroline Rees KC, defending, said the "best point in mitigation" she could make on his behalf was that of the "remorse" he had shown since the incident.
uncertain
he → defend → incident
She referenced a letter from defendant in which he "expresses his sorrow and regret" for what happened, she said.
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she → reference → sorrow
Lucy Mansfield, of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "McKenna's actions were cold and calculated, deliberately taking a knife to a public place to attack his ex-partner.
"
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actions → say → partner
He committed a shocking act of violence, which must have been terrifying for the victim.
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which → commit → victim
…and 6 more, not listed.
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