A KNIFEMAN who viciously stabbed a man in a Bolton street with a kitchen knife has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

At Manchester Crown Court shaven headed Ross Ashcroft stood emotionless in the dock as the judge Mrs Justice Thirlwall, told him he will spend at least 20 years behind bars before being eligible to apply for parole.

During an eight day trial a jury heard how victim, aspiring musician Carlton Alexander had had a row with his girlfriend, Keshia Seaton, after giving her a lift to her work Christmas party at the Macron Stadium.

He then sent her a text stating: “You’re single and you can do what you want, love.”

After the party on December 12 last year Miss Seaton and friend Charlene Morgan headed for The Corner Club on Bradshawgate where they met up with Miss Seaton’s old school pals Ian Parr, Damien Washbrook and Lee Higgins.

She invited them and Ross Ashcroft, who was with them, back to her Brightmeadow Close, Breightmet home where they continued drinking vodka, rum and Champagne.

Both Mr Parr and Ashcroft asked Miss Seaton to wash their T-shirts and did not have them when 23-year-old Mr Alexander walked into the house through the back door at 3.30am.

The court was told that Miss Seaton explained she was doing nothing wrong but Mr Alexander became angry, refused offers to stay and have a drink, and left the house.

But half an hour later he was back, along with friend Stephen Nambwe.

“It is clear that Carlton returned in a fit of jealous anger and was intent on a confrontation with the four males,” Mark Kellet, prosecuting, had told the court.

As the four guests left the house Mr Alexander attacked 31-year-old Ashcroft with a dumbbell, hitting him over the head.

The jury were told that the four men then hung around outside the house and were chased down the road.

But Ashcroft stopped running and turned, ending up face to face with Mr Alexander, who hit him in the head again with a dumbbell.

Ashcroft, who had armed himself with a knife from Miss Seaton’s kitchen, stabbed Mr Alexander twice, the second of the fatal blows causing a 22cm deep wound.

Ashcroft and the other three men left the scene, walking to the Metro taxi office on Tonge Moor Road, getting there at 5.13am.

As they walked Ashcroft, of Balcary Road in Bolton, told his friends: “I think I’ve stabbed him.”

But, giving evidence, Lee Higgins said he didn’t believe him.

“I thought he was bigging himself up because he had been beaten up,” he said.

After the stabbing Mr Alexander was rushed to the Salford Royal Hospital where he was certified dead at 5.30am.

The next morning Mr Higgins, Mr Parr and Mr Washbrook learned of Mr Alexander’s death via social media and went to the police.

Ashcroft was arrested the same day after being found hiding in an outhouse.

The jury were told that both Ashcroft and Mr Alexander have previous convictions for offences involving violence.

Ashcroft denied murdering Mr Alexander, claiming he had been acting in self-defence.

John Ryder QC, defending, told the court:  “He took up weapons only because weapons had been taken up against him.”

 “Yes, he caused the death of Carlton Alexander, but he did not murder him,” said Mr Ryder.

But the jury of seven men and five women disagreed, finding him guilty of murder by a ten to two majority following 13 hours and 29 minutes of deliberation.

The judge was told how Ashcroft, whose 32nd birthday is today, has a lengthy criminal record, including for offences of violence involving knives.

He had only been released from jail five days before stabbing Mr Alexander.

Sentencing Ashcroft, Mrs Justice Thirlwall told him: “You are prepared to use weapons whenever it suits you.

“You acted with lethal force which was out of proportion to that which had been meted out to you.”

Mr Alexander's friend, Stephen Nambwe, aged 22, of High Street, Great Lever, will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court tomorrow after admitting affray.