Cocaine-fuelled thug stabbed love rival in head
A THUG who repeatedly stabbed a love rival in the head with a machete has been jailed for 10 years.
Liam Morgan, 31, flew into a rage after he was sent pictures via Facebook Messenger of his ex-girlfriend kissing the victim, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Fuelled by cocaine and booze, Morgan stormed round to his ex-girlfriend’s address in Harpurhey armed with a ‘machete-type’ weapon.
When she answered the door, Morgan pushed her out of the way and immediately went to attack her new partner. He launched himself at the victim, slashing him on the wrist and three times around the head when he attempted to flee into the kitchen, the court heard.
Morgan’s three children with his expartner were asleep in the home at the time.
Sentencing, Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said his reaction to having been sent the kissing pictures was ‘wholly disproportionate.’
She said: “You spent a couple of hours brooding over the photographs. Then you went round late at night armed with a knife, it was a significant weapon.”
The court heard the victim suffered life-changing injuries, including cuts between 3-5cm long to his scalp and temple and a 4cm laceration to the wrist.
Doctors estimated he had only 7 per cent function of his hand remaining, although it is hoped this may improve over time with physiotherapy.
However, the victim said in an impact statement that he remains fearful of going out in public because of the permanent scarring to his face.
Morgan was arrested at the scene last August and charged with section 18 wounding with intent.
He pleaded guilty and Judge Nicholls sentenced Morgan to 10 years in prison.
Describing the night in question, prosecutor Andrew MacIntosh said: “As far as the defendant was concerned, they were still in a relationship.
“[When he saw the Facebook pictures] he felt he was being goaded.
“He went round to the address intending to warn [the victim] off.”
The court heard Morgan’s ex-girlfriend later told police she had sent the pictures to Morgan ‘in error’ and immediately tried to delete them.
“But by that time, the messages had been dispatched,” said Mr MacIntosh. “That was at 11 in the evening. “A couple of hours later there was banging at the front door.”
Sarah Johnson, defending, said Morgan felt remorse for his behaviour and suggested there had been a degree of ‘provocation.’
She said: “He is a 31-year-old man with a lot of maturity to reach. He is a committed father.”
Nevertheless, Judge Nicholls said the circumstances of the case were ‘very serious’ and only a lengthy custodial sentence would be appropriate.