An ex-boxer was ‘partially disembowelled’ by his next-door neighbour in a savage drunken knife attack sparked by a bizarre row over a parcel delivery.
Mike Williams, 58, a former heavyweight boxer, has told how he initially did not realise he had been stabbed, and was able to stay standing and fight back despite being stabbed six times.
A hospital doctor later described him as a ‘man of steel’.
Mike Williams, 58, a former heavyweight boxer, has told how he initially did not realise he had been stabbed, and was able to stay standing and fight back despite being stabbed six times
The fall-out began when Mr Williams received a card from the Royal Mail through his letterbox telling him that a parcel for him had been left next door with neighbour Allessandro Nicholls.
A few days later Mr Williams, who worked as a doorman in Heywood for 30 years, went to collect the item – a vitamin sample he had ordered online.
But Nicholls claimed he knew nothing about it, a court heard.
Tempers flared though when Nicholls’s girlfriend ‘pointed out’ the parcel, which turned out to have been opened.
The fall-out began when Mr Williams received a card from the Royal Mail through his letterbox telling him that a parcel for him had been left next door with neighbour Allessandro Nicholls (pictured)
Mr Williams began to shout abuse and swear at them, telling the couple they belonged in a ‘nut house’ and making ‘disparaging comments about their lifestyles’, Manchester Crown Court was told. He then returned home.
Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, said: ‘Mr Williams’ conduct is not to be condoned. But it does not begin to excuse or justify, or even, it is submitted, significantly mitigate what the defendant did later that day.’
The court heard Nicholls, 50, who was by then drunk, went to Mr Williams’s house just six hours later armed with a baseball bat and a knife.
Mr Bassano said he was angry and unstable, ‘dwelling on Mr Williams’ earlier attendance’.
As Mr Williams opened his door Nicholls shouted ‘you f******’ b******, I’m going to kill you’, then ‘struck blows’ with the knife into his stomach.
A street fight between the two followed.
Tempers flared though when Nicholls’s girlfriend ‘pointed out’ the parcel, which turned out to have been opened
Nicholls, the court heard, shouted: ‘I’m gonna f******’ kill you. I’ve got to kill you, my life’s no good’ as Mr Williams desperately tried to protect himself.
The struggle on Lancaster Avenue in Middleton, ended when a witness’s son intervened. Nicholls returned home, leaving Mr Williams injured outside his house.
The court heard he suffered six stab wounds in total, to his arm, neck and the left side of the chest.
Mr Bassano said his ‘abdominal contents were visible through the lower chest wound’ and he had surgery on the ‘eviscerated bowel’, described as a ‘life-threatening injury’.
Nicholls was initially charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty to wounding with intent. He was jailed for 13 years.
Mr Bassano said the parcel was delivered a week before the attack in March.
He said: ‘They did not know each other well. The defendant had lived there only a few months and Mr Williams did not know his name. He expected his neighbour would bring the parcel to him. This did not happen.’
After the hearing, Mr Williams said he is back on his feet,other than needing a hernia operation and having numbness in some of his fingers.
Mr Williams admitted he had swore towards Nicholls, but said he wasn’t threatening and denied saying they belonged in a ‘nut house’.
He said: ‘We had a bit of verbals. I went home and thought nothing of it.
‘I couldn’t see a knife at first. I didn’t realise I had been stabbed until I felt something warm coming down me, which was blood.
‘I was still able to stand up, I didn’t have any shoes on though. I punched
him and he went to the ground.
‘One of the doctors in the hospital said I was a ‘man of steel’.’
Speaking of Nicholls, Mr Williams, who has lived in the property for five years, said: ‘He is a danger to the public. If he did that over nothing, imagine what he could do for a reason.’
Wayne Jackson, defending, said Nicholls was ‘absolutely distraught’ by his actions and ‘could not explain why things got out of hand’.
Judge Patrick Field QC said the attack was caused by a neighbour dispute and branded it an ‘act of revenge’ on Nicholls’ part.
He said: ‘There can be little doubt that Mr Williams behaved badly, but his bad behaviour amounted to no more than being rude and abusive.
‘It was not so as to justify, even in part, the savage attack that you were later to subject him to.’
Mr Williams was said to be recovering.
Mr Williams began to shout abuse and swear at them, telling the couple they belonged in a ‘nut house’ and making ‘disparaging comments about the lifestyles’, Manchester Crown Court was told. He then returned home