Paul Farrington: thug who stabbed man 14 times with pick-axe in Manchester is jailed

A thug who stabbed someone he knew 14 times with a pick-axe has been jailed at Manchester Crown Court.

Paul Farrington, 39, of Rippleton Road, Wythenshawe, came across the man near his home in July 2021 and approached him ‘in an aggressive manner’, the court heard.

He then stabbed him repeatedly with a pick-axe, but passers-by saw what was happening and intervened, and Farrington then fled.

Witnesses called police and helped them identify Farrington who was later arrested at a relative’s home.

His victim was put in a medically-induced coma but survived the vicious attack, albeit with permanent scars.

Farrington pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to Section 18 assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and this week was given an extended prison sentence of 12 years and nine months in jail, and 17 years on extended license on release.

What have police said?

Detective Constable Martyn Gibson, who ran the investigation with City of Manchester South CID, said: “This was an abhorrent assault which required life-saving heart surgery and has left the victim with scars that will be visible for the rest of his life.

“The perpetrator, Paul Farrington, is an aggressive and violent man and he is now rightly behind bars. I would like to thank the bravery of the witnesses for coming forwards and providing the evidence we needed to bring him to justice.”