A JEALOUS ex-boyfriend broke into his former partner’s home on Christmas Day and repeatedly stabbed her new lover.
At Bolton Crown Court Devenn Sutherman was sentenced to 13 years in prison after the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson, heard how his victim, Scott Latham, suffered eight stab wounds and a punctured lung.
Sutherman, aged 26, of Nelson Square, Bolton, will serve at least eight and a half years behind bars after the judge ruled he is a dangerous offender and passed an extended sentence for public protection.
Adrian Farrow, prosecuting, said Sutherman had been in a relationship with Nicola Taylor, who had a young son, but it was volatile and she had complained several time to police and social services about domestic violence.
The court heard how, in December 2016, a family court granted a her a non-molestation order, but the the pair continued to have contact and in last summer last year she complained to police that he was harassing her.
"By that time she was pregnant with the defendant's child and their relationship was extremely volatile," said Mr Farrow.
Sutherland had been visiting her home and using WhatsApp to send her multiple unpleasant and threatening messages.
The messages included him telling her: "This baby can b born but as soon as it is we will start so enjoy ya last few weeks ... then who knows wt will happen ..."
He also told her, "hope ya protection is good enough but im just waiting for the right time only takes a few mins."
Sutherland told the expectant mum; "Wait till baby's here then we will see something happening."
David Toal, defending, said Sutherland and Ms Taylor had planned to have a child together and he was upset when he only learnt, from social workers, that his son has been born a week after the child's arrival on November 8.
"It was, as far as he was concerned, a much wanted child. On hearing the news he was extremely upset," said Mr Toal.
Sutherland did not see the baby and he and Ms Taylor exchanged a large number of messages. Then Sutherland learned that Ms Taylor was in a new relationship.
"He didn't react well," said Mr Toal.
In November Sutherman was arrested for harassment and was due to stand trial on January 17.
But despite being on bail, in the ealy hours of Christmas Day, he sent Ms Taylor a large number of messages via social media and threatened both her and Mr Latham in phone calls.
Mr Toal said Mr Latham had also been abusive to Sutherman.
Then, at 3.10am, the couple heard a loud bang as Sutherman smashed in the back door of their terraced house in Corner Lane, Hindley and Mr Lathan ran downstairs.
"He had never met the defendant before, but recognised him from his Facebook profile," said Mr Farrow.
Armed with a knife, Sutherman ran at Mr Latham, shouting "die".
"As the two men came together, the defendant stabbed Mr Latham to left side of his chest and continued to stab at Mr Latham in what he described as a frantic manner," said Mr Farrow.
As Mr Latham tried to push Sutherman out of the door he was repeatedly stabbed but then managed to run off down an alleyway with the attacker chasing him.
Ms Taylor was also punched in the face by Sutherman, who escaped, only giving himself up to police on January 11.
He was initially charged with attempted murder but then prosecutors accepted his guilty pleas to intentional grievous bodily harm, causing actual bodily harm and aggravated burglary.
Sentencing Sutherman to 13 years in prison, with an additional two years on licence, Judge Clayson: "The nature of the attack was such that it could have been fatal and it was clearly planned."
He described Sutherman, who has a criminal record for domestic violence, as behaving in a "jealous, possessive and controlling" manner.
"It seems to me that there is no doubt at all you pose a substantional risk of causing serious harm to the public," said the judge.
Speaking after the sentencing Det Con Lynsey Watson-Perry of Wigan police, said: “Sutherman violently stabbed his former girlfriend's partner in a fit of jealous rage after forcing his way in to her home in the early hours of Christmas Day.
“Sutherman fled the scene, and actively evaded arrest for a number of weeks to avoid facing the consequences of carrying out this brutal attack.
“Today he will face up to what he has done, and spend the next 13 years in prison considering his actions.”