HERO removal men saved a client from being stabbed to death when an attacker came into the house as they packed up boxes. 

Julian Davies, 54, would have died if not for the actions of Chepstow Removals staff, a court heard. 

Cardiff Crown Court heard that 51-year-old John Way bore a grudge because “childhood sweetheart” Jayne Davies (née McKendrick) had left him and started a relationship with Mr Davies who she married earlier this year.

Mike Jones, prosecuting, said the defendant showed up uninvited at his ex-wife's home in Woolpitch Wood on November 25 last year after a tip-off from a friend telling him vans were parked outside.

Way, who was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for attempted murder, met his ex-wife when she was just a teenager and could not cope when the relationship ended, the court heard.

Falling into depression as his wife moved on, he planned to attack Mr Davies and wrote letters to family members in the months before saying: “Dear mum and dad, If you are reading this I am most likely under arrest. Sorry if you feel shame for what I have done.”

Way, of St Lawrence Park in Chepstow, put a six-inch kitchen knife in his car in preparation for the “premeditated” assault, the court heard.

Putting the knife up his sleeve he went into the house and into the living room, where he found his former partner and asked her if Julian Davies was in the house.

She lied to protect Mr Davies, the court heard, telling him he was not there and she would not be living with him when she moved out.

But Way then saw him walk into the room and exclaimed: “There’s that bastard who ruined my life.”

Under arrest he told police he lunged at Mr Davies, seeing a “red mist”. 

Removal man Adrian Hambleton heard cries and rushed to try and pull Mr Davies away from his victim as colleague Ben Bastin phoned 999. 

Before Mr Hambleton could pull him away, Way managed to stab Mr Davies four times around the chest and heart, leaving him on the ground in a pool of blood and Mrs Davies with wounds to her hands from trying to protect him. 

Way had already received a caution and harassment notice after he punched Mr Davies on an earlier occasion, but other than this had not been in trouble with police before, the court heard.

When police searched the house where he lived with his parents they found a letter to Lloyds Bank putting his affairs in order and documents saying “the past year has been a nightmare,” describing Mrs Davies as his “beautiful, deceitful and unfaithful wife Jayne.”

Kevin Seal, mitigating, said his client wished he could “turn back the clock” realising the severity of what he had done and that he may never see his elderly parents outside of prison again.

“He has been a hardworking man throughout his life and a family man,” he said. “Perhaps his loyalty to his family meant the marriage break-up hit him more harshly than in other cases.”

He said if his friend Stephen Johnson had not phoned him that day he would never have been at the scene.

Way pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial to the attempted murder of Julian Davies, assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Jayne Davies and possession of a bladed article without a legitimate reason.

He received 14 years in prison for attempted murder, 21 weeks in prison for ABH and six months in prison for possession of a  bladed article, to run concurrently. 

High Court judge Mrs Justice Carr also banned him from any communication with or regarding Mr and Mrs Davies. 

Det Con Rod Webb, the officer leading the case, said: “I’d like to recognise the bravery of the removal men who prevented him being killed.

"I would also like to thank the two victims who went through a horrific attack. They have shown remarkable bravery.”

Speaking after the hearing Adrian's mum Angela Hambleton, 71, said: "We are extremely proud of both of them.

"It was instinct as far as Adrian is concerned."