Father who lost son in stabbing found guilty of stalking offence
A father whose son was killed in a knife attack more than five years ago is facing sentencing for a stalking offence.
Paul Crittenden, of Marion Crescent, Shepway, admitted causing serious alarm and distress to a woman by sending text messages, leaving voicemails and going to her home between January and March last year.
He denied dangerous driving in the town on March 12 last year and the charge was left on the court file.
When Crittenden, 51, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday the case was described as a sad one that stemmed from the death of his son Tom in September 2011.
The 21-year-old victim, who was 6ft 3in and described by his family as “a gentle giant”, died from a single stab wound to his chest inflicted by Caleb White.
The blade of the large kitchen knife penetrated 10cm, piercing Tom’s lung and heart.
Baby-faced White, of Cornwall Close, Shepway, was cleared of murder but unanimously convicted of manslaughter in April 2012.
The dad-of-one with a low IQ was said to have been wound up with jealousy and anger when he stabbed the victim following a confrontation at a property in Dublin House, Cornwall Close, Shepway.
He claimed he stabbed the victim by accident while trying to scare him off.
Tom, a former pupil at the Cornwallis Academy, in Hubbards Lane, Linton, fled in a van being driven by someone else and collapsed and died less than half a mile away in Nottingham Avenue.
White, who was just 19 when he killed Tom, was jailed for 14 years at the age of 20.
The defence lawyer asked that Judge Jeremy Carey, who conducted White’s trial, sentence Crittenden.
The judge adjourned for reports until the week beginning March 20.
Bail was continued.