A man who ambushed his ex-girlfriend as she arrived at work, slashing her repeatedly in the face, arms and torso, was sentenced Monday to 17 years in prison.

Gary Arnold Mabes Sr. received the sentence from Roanoke Circuit Court Judge Charlie Dorsey.

Angry that Vicky Ruth Potter had ended a relationship in which he regularly beat her, Mabes waited for her to arrive at the Jefferson Surgical Clinic on Franklin Road the morning of Jan. 15.

Knowing that Potter had injured her knee and would be walking with crutches, Mabes easily overtook her as she tried to get inside. He then asked if she had been dating someone else before beginning to stab her.

"We rarely have a case that involves this degree of planning and premeditation," said Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Peter Lubeck, who asked for a 30-year prison term.

Mabes, 43, fled after two of Potter's co-workers ran outside and began to scream at him.

The stabbing, which happened just 10 days after Mabes was convicted of violating a protective order that was supposed to keep him away from Potter, left her permanently scarred.

Mabes pleaded guilty to aggravated malicious wounding in September. A second charge of attempted murder was dropped.

In a statement he read in court, Mabes apologized to his victim. "I pray every day for God to help her and heal all of the scars I put on her, and all the pain," Mabes said.

Mabes sobbed throughout his sentencing hearing.

"There's no question in my mind that he is extremely remorseful about this," defense attorney Chris Kowalczuk said.