Man sentenced to 14 years in prison for violent attack in Cambridge
Samuel Jackson from Thetford was found not guilty of attempted murder but pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent
A man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after carrying out a violent knife attack on a woman in Cambridge.
Police say Samuel Jackson left his 42-year-old victim with multiple stab wounds and fighting for her life following the unprovoked attack in Kathleen Elliott Way on 26 May 2025.
The court heard that, on the morning of the attack, Jackson visited the woman at her home between 6am and 7am. The pair drank beer together and Jackson admitted he had also smoked crack cocaine before his arrival.
They later walked to a nearby shop where they bought coffee and food before returning to the flat at about 8am. Shortly afterwards, Jackson went into the kitchen before emerging armed with a knife and launched an unprovoked attack on the woman. She later described Jackson’s behaviour as being ‘like a crazed animal’.
The victim was stabbed several times in the chest, with one of the wounds narrowly missing her heart. Despite her injuries, she managed to make her way outside to shout for help. Emergency services were called, and she was taken to hospital, where she remained for several days.
Cambridgeshire Police says following the attack, Jackson fled the flat through a bathroom window before garden hopping across neighbouring properties and eventually running towards Cambridge Airport. He was stopped by workers on the runway until police arrived.
Following a five-day trial at Cambridge Crown Court, Jackson, 35, of Harvest Road, Watton, Thetford, was found not guilty of attempted murder but pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Thursday (29 January 2026).
Detective Constable George McCready, who investigated, said:
“This was a brutal and completely unprovoked attack on a woman who believed Jackson was her friend. Jackson’s behaviour that morning was violent and unpredictable and this sentence reflects the severity of the harm he caused.
"While the victim has recovered physically from her injuries, the impact of the violent assault is ongoing.”