Man jailed for 30 years after attempted murder

A man who stabbed a man and his ex-partner in Cheadle has been jailed for 30 years.

Anthony Lovatt, 68, of Cheadle, was found guilty by a jury at an earlier hearing of one count of attempted murder after he stabbed the man on 8 November last year.

Lovatt was holding a knife in each hand when he turned up at the front door. He had followed both the victims back from a pub.

He stabbed the man three times in the neck, chest and abdomen. He then stabbed the woman in the chest and held a knife to her throat.

Following a struggle with the woman, Lovatt was pushed away. He left down the street holding both knives in his hands.

We acted rapidly to find him. He was arrested at a house in the area and told officers where he hid both of the knives. They were later found in an alleyway between Harbourne Crescent and Windy Arbour.

Detectives worked hard to gather all of the evidence to build a case file against Lovatt for his vicious attack, as well as supporting both victims as much as possible.

The man who he attacked needed an operation in hospital to help with his injuries.

Along with being found guilty for the attempted murder of the man at Stafford Crown Court on 14 April, Lovatt also pleaded guilty to two counts of wounding with intent and two counts of possessing a knife in a public place.

On Friday (11 July), he was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court to 30 years behind bars.

PC Eve Loach, from our Criminal Investigations Department, said: “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to deliver this outcome for both victims who are still continuing to live with the physical and emotional damage that Lovatt caused to them both in this abhorrent attack.

“Violent offenders and domestic abusers are being targeted every single day in Staffordshire. We’re working around the clock to safeguard those at risk and to act robustly against those responsible.”