A violent thug who stabbed his former girlfriend 17 times at her workplace after accusing her of cheating has been jailed for 26 years. Anwar Ashraf, 39, of Portsmouth, turned up uninvited at the victim’s workplace in Whiteley on April 30, 2025. He forced his way into the building, produced a kitchen knife, and launched a frenzied attack as she tried desperately to escape.
Members of the public bravely intervened to restrain Ashraf and called emergency services. The victim survived the life-threatening injuries but required urgent hospital treatment. Ashraf had become obsessed with his ex-partner after their relationship ended. He bombarded her with calls and messages, repeatedly accusing her of infidelity. When arrested, the 39-year-old showed little remorse and reportedly asked officers: “What would you do if your partner cheated on you, how would you react?”
Ashraf admitted carrying a knife and wounding the victim with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. However, prosecutors pursued a charge of attempted murder, arguing that the sustained and brutal nature of the attack demonstrated a clear intention to kill.
A jury at Winchester Crown Court found him guilty of attempted murder on April 1, 2026, following a trial.
He was sentenced to 26 years in prison, with an extended licence period of five years, at the same court on June 5, 2026. He had earlier pleaded guilty to the section 18 wounding and possession of a bladed article on June 5, 2025.
Simon Clark of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “This was a sustained and violent attack carried out in a place where the victim should have felt safe.
“Anwar Ashraf sought to downplay his actions by saying he only wanted to scare the victim, but the nature and scale of this attack showed a clear intent to cause fatal harm.
“Prosecutors refused to let him evade responsibility by pleading guilty to a lesser offence, and ultimately secured a conviction for attempted murder.
“Today’s sentence reiterates the CPS’s commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, and we will continue to prosecute those responsible robustly.”
The case highlights ongoing concerns around stalking and domestic violence, with Ashraf’s obsession continuing long after the relationship had ended.
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