Man jailed for 14 years over attack on family

Steven Challands (34), of Purcell Close, pleaded guilty to the attack last May in a rented holiday apartment in Sennen Cove, Cornwall.

Challands made the family endure five hours of terror in the early hours of May 3.

Truro Crown Court heard that he had been drinking and taken a drug before attacking his partner with a metal bar and a knife while she slept.

The woman, who cannot be named, was injured on her throat and stomach.

Challands then hit her on the head and handcuffed her to the bed before assaulting the three children – all aged under ten – and tying their hands and feet together with cable ties.

Police were called to the holiday home after the mother escaped and raised the alarm.

Mr Philip Lee, prosecuting, told the court that each of the victims feared they were going to be killed.

The court was told that former lorry driver Challands had been planning the attack for months and had purchased several pairs of handcuffs, cable ties and duct tape.

He had also investigated how to restrain people on the internet.

Before the incident, he had watched violent pornography.

Mr Andrew Langdon QC, mitigating, said Challands had been suffering from anxiety and depression and was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

Mr Langdon said that Challands had left school with no qualifications and felt a failure.

Judge Christopher Harvey branded Challands “a dangerous man” and said he had expressed no remorse.

Challands was was charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, four counts of false imprisonment, one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was sentenced 14 years in prison with an extended sentence of four years on licence. Other sentences imposed will run concurrently.