By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 14:35, Tuesday, 05 April 2011

A chef who admitted attempting to murder a Brampton couple as they slept in their own home has today been jailed indefinitely.

Matthew Lucas

Matthew Lucas, 40, must serve at least 13-and-a-half years before he is eligible for parole.

He entered his guilty pleas at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday - on the day his week-long trial was due to get underway.

His victims, police officer Sally Roythorne, 36, and her partner Robert Plevin, 41, suffered horrific injuries in the knife attack at their home in Tree Road, Brampton, at 4am on Sunday, May 23 last year. Both were left in a critical condition in intensive care, Mr Plevin spending nearly two days in a coma.

The judge today said they had been left psychologically scarred for the rest of their lives.

In court yesterday, Lucas, of Chapel Street, Temple Sowerby, spoke only to confirm his name and to enter his guilty pleas.

His defence lawyer, Ian Unsworth QC, confirmed that Lucas has no previous criminal convictions.

The court heard that he had been among a group of guests invited by the couple to a party at their home.

Lucas carried out the knife attack after spending a pleasant evening at the up-market property called Holly Garth.

The guests had enjoyed a barbecue. Police said the evening had been good-natured and uneventful, with no clues to the horror of what was to unfold.

“It was just a respectable, normal party, and there was nothing to suggest that anything like this would happen,” said Detective Chief Inspector Bob Qazi, who led the investigation into the stabbings.

But at around 4am, having armed himself with a 1ft-long kitchen knife, Lucas sneaked into the couple’s bedroom, and launched what police described as a “sustained” and “violent” attack on them as they lay helpless in bed. The injuries suffered by Mr Plevin, stabbed as he slept, were particularly serious.

Miss Roythorne made a desperate attempt to fight off Lucas, but she too suffered serious stab wounds.

At the time of the attack, they had lived in Tree Road for only a few months.

Police and prosecutors yesterday paid tribute to the couple, saying that they had suffered huge physical and ongoing psychological trauma.

Prosecutor Becky McGregor, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “They’ve shown great courage.”

Mr Qazi echoed her sentiments, saying the victims had shown fortitude.

He added: “I also want to praise the inquiry team, who have done a tremendous job.”

Lucas had maintained not guilty pleas until he changed his plea yesterday.

Early legal discussions suggested that he might blame his actions on sleepwalking.

He now faces the likelihood of a lengthy spell in jail when he is sentenced today by the Honourable Mr Justice McKay after he has heard a detailed account of the double murder bid and background information about the defendant.

He has been remanded in custody since his arrest and charge last year.

First published at 11:26, Tuesday, 05 April 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk