Scorned teacher turns up at lover's house in wig and hacks at wife with knife
A scorned teacher turned up at her lover's house in a wig and stabbed his wife.
Clare Bailey was captured arriving at the family home in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on the Ring doorbell.
The 44-year-old maths teacher was wearing a red wig and holding a bunch of flowers she'd bought from a nearby Sainsbury's.
She proceeded to stab and slash at her victim with a carving knife in a blood-thirsty attack.
Leeds Crown Court heard on Friday that Bailey, of Dudley, West Midlands, had been having an affair with the woman's husband.
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The defendant had even previously sent flowers to the couple's home with a handwritten note in a bid to make him believe his wife was being unfaithful.
He ended the relationship with Bailey and blocked her on social media.
Bailey disguised herself in a red wig and face mask (North Yorkshire Police)Prosecutor Rupert Doswell said the defendant had begun the affair with the man after a kiss at her brother's wedding, reports YorkshireLive.
They are understood to have known each other for around 20 years prior.
He said it "progressed to a sexual relationship and they met on a handful of occasions" over the next couple of years.
Mr Doswell added that it was "clear" Bailey hoped her lover would leave his wife - referred to in court as 'Emma'.
"At the time he accepted he may have given her the impression he may," the prosecutor said.
At around midnight sometime between Christmas and New Year's Eve 2019, there was a knock on the door, the court heard.
Flowers and two handwritten cardboard notes were left.
One of the notes said: "I'll keep on waiting for when I can have Christmas with you."
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Another added: "If only I could be with you."
She held up flowers to help cover her face before the attack (North Yorkshire Police)Mr Doswell said Emma even got a call at work from someone saying "I know what he's up to".
In March 2022, the man told Bailey he was ending their relationship and his children were his priority.
He then blocked her on social media in May 2022.
While out on a walk for his lunch break he felt a "tap on his shoulder" and looked round to see Bailey.
The court heard the pair spoke for half an hour and he "told her the relationship is over".
On June 24 last year, Bailey was caught on CCTV at a Sainsbury's supermarket buying flowers.
ANPR cameras tracked her car from her home on her journey to Harrogate.
Donning a red wig and obscuring her face with the Covid face mask and flowers, she knocked on the door before brutally attacking Emma.
North Yorkshire Police were called to the scene at just after 4.50pm to reports a woman had been stabbed.
Mr Doswell said the defendant told her victim the flowers were for her before bursting into the hallway with the large knife and "violently attacked".
Bailey repeatedly hacked, slashed and stabbed at Emma, who tried to grab at the knife, resulting in serious injuries to her hand.
It was said that after the attack, two men in their cars saw Bailey calmly walking away.
Mr Doswell said one of them said she "seemed casual".
He didn't think anything had happened at the address but "heard screaming and with others went inside".
"After seeing blood, he ran up the street to see where the defendant had gone. She had disappeared," the prosecutor added.
Bailey went home and attempted to dispose of the disguise but was arrested in the early hours of July 4.
On her way to custody, she asked an officer: "Is this in relation to my friend's wife? I spoke to him and he said she had been stabbed."
Mr Doswell said: "When shown CCTV of her at the supermarket, she claimed memory loss in relation to that and the events."
Bailey was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court (BPM MEDIA)Officers searched Bailey's home and discovered blood stained clothing from the washing machine and a blue Covid mask.
A blood stained glove was found under a bin and there were blood stains on the door of her car.
It was said Emma suffered serious injuries to her neck, forearm, arm and abdominal and she had to undergo surgery.
The court heard her injuries were described as life changing and were "within millimetres of being a serious threat to life".
She said at the scene: "A woman tried to give me flowers and I said 'I don't want them'" and "Don't let me die".
Emma was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary where she stayed for a month before she discharged herself.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, she said she still suffers with nightmares and flashbacks and added: "Sometimes I will stop myself from sleeping as I don't want the dreams to happen."
Emma said it is not known if the full feeling will return in her hands and she is working with an occupational therapist.
She has also lost her job, as a result, and if she is required to travel more than a few paces, is in need of a wheelchair.
Curtis Myrie, mitigating, told the court Bailey had pleaded guilty to attempted murder at an earlier hearing.
A psychiatric report for the court had also been prepared.
He said: "There is an acceptance of responsibility entirely for what she has done. For the catastrophic and traumatic consequences of her actions. There is no minimising of that."
He said the pre-sentence report refers to her demonstrating a "good level of insight" into the emotional and psychological impact on the victim.
Mr Myrie added that his client expressed her "regret and remorse" for the harm caused to the victim and her family.
The court heard the breakdown of an emotionally abusive relationship meant Bailey was left as the sole carer for her kids.
Her young son died while she was remanded in custody.
Bailey was jailed for 22 years and four months.
His Honour Judge Robin Mairs said she must serve two thirds of that sentence in custody.
Bailey was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order.
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