Tattoo-face man of a would-be murderer who stabbed friend outside Hanley McDonald’s

This is the tattooed faced of a man who tried to kill his friend in a knife attack in Hanley. Police today welcomed the 15-year sentence handed to Lloyd Bradford [1] who pleaded guilty to attempted murder. The 42-year-old monkey dust user stabbed the victim, who he knew through the drug-using community, in the chest after calling him a 'paedophile' and a 'nonce'.

The attack happened on the street in broad daylight after they left the city centre McDonald's. Despite being injured, the pair then walked around a mile to Lidl. While outside the store, the victim collapsed and Bradford tried to get him help before doing a runner.

The victim needed life-saving surgery in hospital, where he spent two days to recover from his horrific injuries. Bradford was arrested at a friend's house on the day of the stabbing, where he had just cleaned blood off a knife. READ: Bentilee mum's horror as son, 10, shoved out of way during brazen defrosting car theft [2] | Kasia Wasilewska said she and her son were left shaken after the terrifying incident, which happened when she briefly went in the house to get an ice scraper

READ: Family tribute to football-mad Smiler, 31, who was pulled from river after crash [3] Talented footballer Kial Thurman was described as a 'bright, creative, and kind young man' who was rarely seen without a football by his feet Following last week's sentencing hearing, DC Callum Green, of Stoke-on-Trent CID North, said: "This could have easily become fatality. Lloyd Bradford carried out a brutal attack which left the victim fighting for his life.

"Thankfully, the guilty plea saved the victim from having to go through a trial. I would like to thank them for their support throughout this investigation." Speaking about the investigation unfolded, Staffordshire Police said they were called to Lichfield Street in Hanley just before 12 noon on May 16 this year.

A spokesman said: "When we arrived, we found a man with puncture wounds to his chest and his chin. He was taken to hospital where he had surgery and was sedated until the next day. "CCTV showed Bradford arguing with the victim before he collapsed.

The footage clearly shows Bradford dropping a silver kitchen knife, which fell from his sleeve, before he picks it up and conceals it again. "We visited Bradford's last known address that afternoon and witnesses said he had been back to the property a few minutes earlier and washed a kitchen knife in the sink. He was arrested and there were spots of blood on the shorts he was wearing.

We seized the knife and it matched the knife on the CCTV." Bradford, of Ogden Road, Hanley will serve up to two thirds of the sentence (10 years) before he is released. Judge Sally Hancox told the defendant: "This was an appalling offence.

Whatever view you may have formed of your victim, he had done you no real harm.

It was born out of paranoia and loss of self control that the drug known locally as monkey dust caused that day."

References

^ 15-year sentence handed to Lloyd Bradford (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Bentilee mum's horror as son, 10, shoved out of way during brazen defrosting car theft (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Family tribute to football-mad Smiler, 31, who was pulled from river after crash (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Sign up to our main daily newsletter here and get all the latest news straight to your inbox for FREE (data.reachplc.com)