Hammer attack on ex-girlfriend ‘inspired by Netflix killer’

A WOMAN whose ex-girlfriend attacked her with a claw hammer claims she was inspired by You, the Netflix serial killer drama.

Chloe James, 27, was watching the show when she threatened her partner: “If you ever finish with me I’ll turn into him,” referencing Joe, the main character. But her threats came true when she attacked Chloe Coehlo, 21, two years later after being dumped.

The victim has now described the 22-month suspended sentence handed to her attacker as “an absolute joke”.

She told how her partner had begged her for one last countryside walk with their dog. She was then attacked with a claw hammer as she fell to the ground and thought she was going to die.

James claimed she was acting in selfdefence, but pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on the day she was due to stand trial.

The attack took place in September 2020 at an isolated spot near Llangennech in Carmarthenshire.

James had asked Ms Coehlo to close her eyes as she had a surprise for her, when she retrieved the weapon from the boot of her car, Swansea Crown Court heard last year.

Ms Coehlo said: “We went for a walk and got back to our cars. She begged me to go for a drive and tried to kiss me and told me she loved me. But I pushed her away and told her it was over between us for good. She told me she had something in her car for me but was embarrassed to give it to me.

“Seconds later, I felt this searing pain in my head – like my skull was being smashed in. I fell to the ground and could see she had a claw hammer in her hand. I was covered in my own blood. I thought I was going to die.”

Ms Coehlo, of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, said James told her: “If I can’t have you, no one else will,” as she attempted to make a run for it. The attack was only stopped when another car drove past and Ms Coehlo was later treated for cuts and bruises

James, of Ammanford, was handed a 22-month sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay £750 in compensation in October.

Ms Coehlo said: “I was utterly devastated when she got a suspended sentence. I felt like I had been assaulted all over again … I have constant headaches and horrible flashbacks. I am just glad I am still alive.”