A man has been jailed for life after a vicious knife attack on a mother and daughter in their Wandsworth home.
The attack occurred on December 4, 2023, when Tito Eleto, 30, forced his way into the victims’ flat after asking the daughter to remove the door chain during a doorstep conversation.
Once inside, he launched a violent assault, stabbing the woman, who is in her 30s, multiple times.
As the younger woman fled deeper into the flat, Eleto pursued her, inflicting further injuries.
Her mother, in her 60s, tried to protect her daughter but was also attacked, suffering a stab wound to her armpit and narrowly avoiding further injuries as Eleto attempted to stab her in the head.
The women eventually managed to barricade themselves in a bedroom with the younger woman’s six-month-old baby, using a cot to block the door.
Despite Eleto breaking through and threatening to kill everyone in the room, the victims’ pleas for their lives and the baby’s safety eventually convinced him to leave the flat.
Neighbours, alerted by the women’s screams, called the police.
Officers arrived quickly and confronted Eleto near the lift, where he was still armed with the knife and covered in blood.
When he refused to drop the weapon, officers used incapacitant spray and a Taser to disarm him after he began stabbing himself.
Both women were found inside the flat with severe injuries.
The younger woman suffered deep cuts to her face, arms, and neck, while her mother had cuts to her arms.
Paramedics treated them at the scene before they were taken to hospital. The baby was unharmed.
Tito Eleto, 30, Radipole Road, SW6 previously admitted attempted murder, grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a knife for his actions that stemmed from a domestic dispute.
He admitted to the offences and was sentenced on December 16, 2024 at Kingston Crown Court.
He received life imprisonment with a minimum term of 12 years for attempted murder, along with concurrent sentences of five years for GBH and one year for knife possession.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Lucas Pollard said: “This was a horrific attack on two woman which began on a doorstep and escalated into a fight for their lives.
“The women absolutely thought they were going to die – it must have been terrifying for them, not least as a six-month-old baby was also inside the property.
“I thank the neighbours who heard the women’s screams for help and called police.
“Those officers then confronted Eleto as he tried to flee and, despite Eleto being still armed with a knife, managed to overpower and arrest him.
“Other officers who helped the victims described the scene inside the property as “carnage”.
“This type of domestic attack has a long-lasting impact on victims and we will always do our absolute best to investigate and bring offenders to justice.”