A WIDNES man who stabbed his neighbour in an attempted murder bid ‘sparked by jealousy and rage’ but was thwarted thanks to the actions of two teenage boys has been caged for 20 years.
Warren Flaherty, 50, of Greenway Road, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday, January 15,
The defendant pleaded guilty to attempted murder and threatening with an offensive weapon in a public place at a previous hearing.
He was handed an 18 year sentence for attempted murder, with two years to run consecutively for the offensive weapon charge.
A Cheshire police spokeswoman said that the victim – Alison Sheridan, 41 – suffered ‘serious and life changing injuries’ as a result of the knife attack on Saturday, November 8, 2014, on Lower Appleton Road in which she was stabbed ‘at least eight times’.
The spokeswoman said that officers were called after Flaherty – who lived next door to the victim with his wife – carried out the attack in the street around 5.30pm and that two teenage boys, who were not known to the victim, came to her aid during the incident.
One boy was a passenger in a car that was driving past and spotted a woman running away from a man.
After leaving the vehicle to try and help, the defendant pulled his victim to the floor and restrained her as she shouted and tried to fend him off, the police spokeswoman said.
The boy witnessed the man ‘repeatedly lunge’ at his victim with an eight inch kitchen knife injuring her arm, chest and stomach and the teenager ‘kicked out’ at Flaherty, the spokeswoman added.
Flaherty picked up the knife and walked towards the boy, who backed away, while the victim had fled to a nearby shop.
Police said that the defendant calmly started to walk up Lower Appleton Road toward a social club, but the boy followed and started shouting after him.
Another teenage boy was then spotted by first witness, who told him what happened and asked him to call the police.
As the second teeenager spoke to police over the phone and gave details, the spokeswoman said that Flaherty ‘turned and lunged’ at both boys with the knife.
When one of them dropped their mobile phone and went to pick it up, the defendant ‘suddenly turned and ran at him’ with the knife, according to the Cheshire police spokeswoman.
Flaherty was arrested at the scene after being told to drop the knife and get down on the floor, while the victim was treated by paramedics and taken to Aintree Hospital for further medical attention, where she remained for a ‘number of weeks’ before being discharged, the police spokeswoman said.
Detective Constable Heather Phillips said the incident was a ‘vicious attack’ on the victim as she walked home.
DC Phillips added: “Flaherty had developed a fascination with Alison and believed he was in a relationship with her.
“When she started seeing someone he could not handle this and it was clear that he did not want anyone else to have her.
“In a bid to ensure this never happened he armed himself with a weapon, waited until she left her house and followed her before carrying out his attack.
“Alison sustained horrific injuries as a result of the stabbing – she remained in hospital for some time and is continuing to receive treatment.
“What happened that day is truly shocking and I hope that the guilty verdict and successful outcome at court today helps to bring about a degree of closure for her.
“Fortunately for the victim two brave teenage boys stepped in and tried to help her. Their actions that day are truly remarkable.
“Not only did they try and stop the attack – but they alerted police and helped to guide officers to where Flaherty was heading so he could be swiftly arrested.
“They did all of this without any concern for their own safety and I know that the victim is truly very grateful for what they did that day.
“She has also expressed her gratitude towards the paramedics and doctors at Aintree Hospital who treated her and to all the police officers who have worked on the case.
“Flaherty is clearly a dangerous man and the sentence handed down today reflects that. I hope that his time behind bars will allow him to reflect upon his actions that day – and how they have affected all those involved.”
The two boys involved in the incident are to be awarded a commendation from the Judge for their actions that day.
Brian Forshaw, senior crown prosecutor with Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service, said: “This was an horrific attack on a next door neighbour, sparked by jealousy and rage.
“Flaherty believed he was in love with the woman. He knew he couldn’t have her and didn’t want anyone else to.
“If it hadn’t have been for the actions of these two teenage boys, this attack could have had even more serious consequences.
“They knew they were putting their own lives in danger but were determined to come to Ms Sheridan’s aid and probably saved her life.
“Young people are often seen as the perpetrators of crime yet the actions of these two teenagers were nothing short of heroic.”
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/