Man jailed for attempted murder of pregnant ex

A man has been jailed 17 years and four months for stabbing his heavily pregnant ex-girlfriend in a street attack.

Daniel Popescu, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Andreea Pintili in Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil, on 5 December 2023.

The 29-year-old also admitted stalking offences.

Prosecutor John Hipkin KC told the court Popescu had been in a relationship with Ms Pintilli from September 2020 until it ended in August 2023 over his gambling habit.

He became obsessed with his ex-girlfriend and, on 27 October, followed her and her son, took a picture of the pair and posted it on TikTok.

Days later he left his clothes in two black bags on her doorstep and left a voicemail message saying: “I’m not going anywhere until you get back with me.”

Popescu was then arrested and told to not contact Ms Pintilli, who moved moved to Aberfan after the incident.

On 5 December, Ms Pintelli heard footsteps behind her after leaving home at 07:45.

She was grabbed and then stabbed a number of times by Popescu with an 8-inch (20cm) knife.

The court heard her instinct was to protect her unborn child – she was 37 weeks pregnant at the time.

Popescu told her: “I have a knife and I am going to kill you.”

The court was shown CCTV of the incident which included screams from a passer-by who ran over and tried to stop Popescu, who then fled the scene.

Popescu was described by Ms Pintilli as a jealous man who could not face the fact they had split up.

In her victim personal statement read to the court she said: “I feel lucky to be alive after this harrowing experience.

“He told me he had a knife and to get into the house. I have no doubt if I went in to the house he would have killed me.

“His intention that day was to kill me and my unborn child.”