The brutal stabbing of 48-year-old Sharon Farthing inside her Ipswich home in December 2024 has led to one of the region’s most disturbing criminal cases in recent years. The incident, which unfolded on a quiet Saturday evening as Farthing was preparing for a Christmas outing, exposed both the shocking violence of the attack itself and the troubling motivations of the assailant, 24-year-old Elliott Mallett.
His actions and the circumstances surrounding the crime culminated in a high-profile trial at Ipswich Crown Court, ultimately resulting in a 30-year prison sentence with an additional five years on licence. The case has profoundly affected the victim, her family, and the wider community, while raising broader concerns about violent behaviour, radicalisation, and escalating criminality among young offenders.
The Attack Inside Admiral Road
On 7 December 2024, Sharon Farthing was at home alone on Admiral Road in the Pinewood area of Ipswich. With her seven-year-old son out of the house, she was upstairs getting ready for a planned Christmas meal, listening to music and using a hairdryer when she sensed an unusual breeze. Believing this to be the arrival of friends, she went to investigate. Instead, she encountered a figure moving in the shadows of her living room. As she made her way toward the stairs, she was confronted by Elliott Mallett, who had broken into her home and begun moving through her belongings in search of valuables.
What followed was a sudden and violent attack. Elliott Mallett produced an eight-inch carving knife and stabbed Farthing eight times, striking her neck, face, hands, shoulder, and leg. The judge later described the assault as “unprovoked, shocking and brutal,” a characterization that reflected both the intensity and the seeming deliberateness of the violence. Despite her severe injuries, Farthing managed to escape the house and seek assistance from a neighbour. Her physical fitness, attributed to her background in boxing and her years of service in the Royal Navy and Suffolk Police, was cited by the judge as a likely factor in preventing a fatal outcome.
Elliott Mallett fled the scene with several personal items belonging to the victim, including a gym bag, moisturiser, and earphones. His intention, as later revealed in court, was to steal goods that could be sold to finance the purchase of a PlayStation 5 for his girlfriend. This detail was among the many disturbing revelations about his motivations, underscoring a lack of remorse and a willingness to resort to severe violence for personal gain.
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Shortly after the attack, police officers encountered Elliott Mallett in Ellenbrook Park. Bodycam footage later played in court showed him falsely claiming he had been the victim of a knifepoint robbery. His account quickly collapsed under scrutiny, and he was arrested the following day. The sequence of events, captured in part on video, demonstrated both his attempt to evade responsibility and his calm demeanor following the assault.
Evidence of Violent Ideology and Behaviour
The three-week trial at Ipswich Crown Court revealed extensive information about Elliott Mallett’s background, interests, and behaviour, much of which shed light on his escalating tendencies toward violence. Examination of his mobile phone uncovered numerous images and videos documenting his fascination with weaponry, acts of cruelty, and extreme ideological content. Jurors were shown selfies in which he posed with knives, imitation firearms, and other weapons, often framed against a backdrop of right-wing political imagery, including posters of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
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More disturbing still were the videos depicting acts of animal cruelty. These recordings showed Elliott Mallett capturing and killing animals by beheading them, attacking them with weapons, and burning them. The collection of footage demonstrated a pattern of deliberate and sadistic behaviour, which prosecutors argued reflected a dangerous mindset long before the attack on Farthing.
Judge Martyn Levett highlighted these findings during sentencing, noting that the content of the phone illustrated not only an obsession with violence but also a willingness to enact it. The recordings were described as “deeply troubling,” indicating a trajectory of behaviour that escalated over time and culminated in the violent home invasion.
Investigators also determined that Elliott Mallett had spent considerable time researching weapons and consuming extremist content. While the court did not attribute his actions to any singular ideological motive, the presence of such material reinforced concerns about individuals who combine extremist belief systems with real-world violent tendencies. The prosecution emphasized that Mallett’s conduct on the day of the attack reflected a level of preparation and intent inconsistent with an impulsive or opportunistic crime.
Impact on the Victim and Sentencing Outcome
Throughout the trial, Farthing demonstrated significant resilience, both in recounting the events of the attack and in confronting the aftermath of her injuries. In a statement read before the court, she described the assault as “controlled and deeply disturbing,” noting that the trauma had left her feeling violated, vulnerable, and plagued by flashbacks. Her testimony highlighted the severe emotional and psychological impact of the incident, which extended well beyond the physical wounds she sustained.
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Farthing emphasized that her life had been fundamentally changed, acknowledging that the threat to her survival had been real and immediate. The scars, she said, remained as constant reminders of how close she came to losing her life. Her experience also underscored the broader consequences of violent crime for victims, who often face long-term recovery that involves both physical rehabilitation and emotional healing.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Adams, who oversaw the investigation, praised Farthing’s strength and cooperation, commending her courage both during the assault and throughout the legal process. He described Elliott Mallett as a calculated and dangerous individual whose behaviour warranted the severe sentence imposed by the court.
The judge handed down a sentence of 30 years in prison, followed by an additional five years on licence, reflecting the gravity of the offences and the need to protect the public. In delivering the sentence, Judge Levett reiterated the premeditated nature of the attack and the extreme level of violence employed. He noted that had Farthing not been physically capable of resisting and escaping, the outcome would likely have been fatal.
Elliott Mallett’s conviction for attempted murder and aggravated burglary brought closure to a troubling and widely publicized case. For the community, it served as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of violent crime, particularly when committed by individuals with histories of cruelty and extremist leanings. For Farthing, it marked an important step in her journey toward rebuilding her life after a devastating and life-altering event.
The case also raised questions about how early intervention, community vigilance, and mental health assessments might help identify individuals whose private behaviour indicates a growing propensity for violence. While the justice system ultimately delivered a substantial sentence, the details revealed during the trial illustrated signs of alarming conduct long before the attack, including the glorification of weapons and documented acts of animal cruelty. Such behaviours, experts often note, can signal a deeper and more dangerous pattern that warrants attention.
Elliott Mallett will now serve decades in prison, giving the public respite from the threat he posed. The sentence reflects a broader effort to impose substantial consequences for violent offenders, particularly those whose actions demonstrate clear intent to cause serious harm or take a life. Farthing’s survival and subsequent testimony played a critical role in ensuring that accountability, and her resilience continues to stand as a testament to her strength in the face of extraordinary adversity.
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