Ambulance worker jailed for ‘frantic’ hammer attack on boss

An ambulance worker who tried to kill his boss in a “frenzied” hammer attack following an ongoing shift row on staff rotation has been jailed.

Stacey Smith waited outside her boss’s home in Tameside before the unprovoked attack on the morning of November 11, 2023.

Police said the 46-year-old man later texted a friend saying: “I smashed his head in – Oopsie xx” after leaving his victim with “serious head injuries”.

Smith, of Newton Heath in Manchester, was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison; This will be followed by a five-year license period.

Manchester Crown Court heard he told police he had a disagreement with his manager over shift patterns after their relationship had deteriorated since the Covid outbreak.

He shouted at his boss and threatened to kill him as he attacked him outside his home at 05:30 GMT.

The court heard the woman repeatedly hit her victim in the head with a hammer as she tried to defend herself, causing serious injuries and breaking her wrist.

The duo had been working together since 2017

Neighbors rushed to the injured woman’s aid and gave her first aid, while placing the hammer in a plastic bag for later forensic examination by police.

Smith later texted a friend and wrote: “I did – -Smashed his head in Oopsie xx!”

He also highlighted plans to “escape” at Liverpool.

However, he eventually surrendered to the police station and was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

He was also convicted of possessing an offensive weapon, which he pleaded guilty to, and was given a restraining order banning him from contacting the woman.

Det Con Stephen McNee said a “violent woman has been taken off the streets”.

Smith’s boss said he suffered life-changing physical injuries from which he “may recover but the mental trauma of the attack will remain with the victim for life”.

“I would like to thank him for his courage in supporting us in our investigation.”