Man sentenced for manslaughter of Stoke-on-Trent father-to-be

A teenager has been jailed for the manslaughter of a father-to-be who died in Stoke-on-Trent last October.

A 17-year-old boy, from Stoke-on-Trent, who cannot be named for legal reasons because he is under 18-years-old, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for the manslaughter of Matthew (Matty) Dale at Stafford Crown Court today (Friday 28 May). He was found guilty at an earlier hearing.

Matty Dale, 23, from Dresden, had gone out with his friend on the evening of Sunday 4 October. They had met up with the defendant and following a struggle Matty received a single stab wound to his back.

Officers attended the scene, outside Keswick House on Lightwood Road, Normacot, just after 12.20am on Monday 5 October. When they arrived, they found Matty lying on the pavement in a large pool of blood. He was unresponsive. Despite the best efforts of the police, the ambulance service and doctors from the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), he died on the way to hospital.

A boy, then 16-years-old, was arrested in Stoke-on-Trent.

In a family statement, Matty’s mum, Mandy Dale, said: “I have been robbed of a life with my son Matty and as a family we will never come to terms with our loss.

“Since this has happened he has become a father to a baby boy, Kayden. Matty will never have the opportunity to see his son. The baby will never meet his father. Matty was really excited about the baby coming. All he ever wanted to be was a dad.

“I would like to thank members of the community who came forward to help with the investigation.”

The senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Alan Lyford, of the Major Investigations Department, said: “This was a tragic case and we’d like to offer our condolences to Matty’s friends and family.”