Chester, UK – Three men have been sentenced for their roles in a brutal attack that left a man with serious injuries in Chester. Benjamin Coote, aged 33 and of no fixed residence in the city, received a prison term of over five years for a violent assault which involved the use of a knife.
His accomplices, 50-year-old Paul Cullen of St Marks Road, Chester, and 44-year-old Stephen Fletcher from Bramley Way, Kirkby, were each handed three-year sentences. The conviction of Cullen and Fletcher followed a week-long trial, with the jury finding them guilty of a lesser assault charge.
The incident occurred on the evening of June 6, 2024, when authorities were alerted to an assault in progress in an alley close to Abbots Nook. Upon arrival, police discovered the severely injured victim on Lorne Street, not far from the scene of the attack.
Emergency services rushed the individual to Aintree Hospital where he was treated for multiple puncture wounds, including two to his back and another above his ear, indicative of a violent altercation.
Law enforcement officials utilized CCTV footage from the area to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the assault. Video evidence depicted Fletcher arriving at the location with the victim shortly followed by Coote and Cullen. The footage clearly showed Coote brandishing a knife and repeatedly stabbing the victim, who was defenseless on the ground. Cullen and Fletcher were seen participating in the battery, contributing to the victim’s injuries before all three assailants fled the scene.
Detective Constable Lorna Postlethwaite, involved in the investigation, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision. She highlighted the exhaustive efforts of local police units across Chester, including response teams and the Criminal Investigation Department, who worked diligently to ensure justice was served.
This violent event has rocked the local community, and it is hoped that the trial’s outcome will bring some solace to the victim and reassure residents that such egregious acts will be met with appropriate legal repercussions. The thorough investigative work and subsequent legal proceedings underscore the community’s commitment to maintaining safety and holding offenders accountable.