A man who stabbed a pregnant woman has pleaded guilty to attempted murder. Armed police attended the scene after the incident which took place in Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil, with schools and local community centres locked down for several hours.
Daniel Popescu fled the scene after stabbing the 29-year-old woman at around 9.10am on December 5 last year, leading to a manhunt. A search of the immediate area was quickly launched by armed officers while schools and other buildings were locked down.
The 29-year-old defendant was later arrested. The woman suffered at least five stab wounds during the assault, and was under police guard while receiving treatment in hospital.
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Appearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, Popescu pleaded guilty to attempted murder and stalking. This took place between October 25, 2023, and December 6, 2023 when the defendant followed the woman, called her from withheld numbers, filmed her and placed the footage on TikTok, and sat outside her home.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to a count of witness intimidation. Prosecution John Hipkins KC said he did not wish to proceed with a trial in respect of this count, which he asked to lie on file.
The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, remanded Popescu in custody until his sentencing on May 28. She warned the defendant that only an immediate custodial sentence would be appropriate in his case.
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