Bedfordshire man who stabbed wife due to 'lockdown stress' jailed
Adam Latchford has been sentenced to ten years in prison
Last updated 18th May 2021
After stabbing his wife because lockdown stress got too much, a man near Luton has been jailed.
After being signed off from work with stress during the first lockdown, Adam Latchford became controlling and obsessive towards his partner of 16 years.
Luton Crown Court heard how, after he'd held a pillow over her face a few months earlier, he stabbed his wife three times at their home in Barton-Le-Clay in August.
The 56-year-old then turned the knife on himself.
Latchford, of Bedford Road, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and got 10 years in jail.
He was also convicted of attempted GBH with intent and got four years and six months, to be served concurrently.
What happened in Barton-le-Clay?
Luton crown court heard there had been no problems in the couple's 16-year relationship until last summer when Latchford, a lab technician, was signed off work with stress.
Prosecutor Martin Mulgrew said he began to display "controlling and obsessive behaviour."
After attending a VE Day street party celebration, where they had both been drinking, they argued over his sister. The victim went to bed and drifted off to sleep, but woke to find a pillow "tight over her face."
"She was struggling and felt she was fighting for her life. He eventually stopped," said Mr Mulgrew.
Latchford called the victim a "horrible c..." and broke down in tears, saying he did not know what had come over him.
On Saturday 8 August, the woman was working in a local pub where she was joined by Latchford at half past five in the afternoon. He drank in the pub while she worked and they walked back to their home together, where the woman's mother was also staying.
Mr Mulgrew went on:
"As they got into bed, he made an incoherent comment and called her a selfish c... . He said he was going to get a knife and would stab her.
"She got out of bed and walked to the stairs. He came up with a large kitchen knife. She asked him not to be so stupid. He stabbed her repeatedly in the chest. She alerted her mother in her room and asked her to call the police. The defendant then stabbed himself."
Both were taken to hospital.
'His intention was to kill me'
The woman suffered three stab wounds.
Two, in her left breast, were stitched, but the third penetrated her upper abdomen and she needed emergency surgery.
He was treated and taken into police custody, where he refused to answer questions.
Latchford, of Bedford Road, Barton-Le-Clay, appeared for sentence, having pleaded guilty to attempted murder.
In a victim personal statement, the woman said:
"I have no doubt his intention was to kill me.
"Before these incidents, he had never hit me or had been abusive. We had a good relationship for 16 years.
"Things changed during lockdown. He had been signed off work for stress."
She said he had wanted to work with her at the pub and did not like it that she was doing well.
The woman added: "I don't think I will ever be able to trust anyone again."
Defending, Warwick Aleeson said:
"He fully accepts the seriousness of his position and of the offences. He has asked me to convey his deep sorrow for what he has done.
"He had been working for 35 years as a lab technician. He had a good relationship with her. The factor which changed this was the lockdown. He went through some sort of mental breakdown."
Whilst on remand he said Latchford, who contracted Covid last December, had been a "model prisoner."
Judge Lynn Tayton QC told him:
"Until the lockdown, your relationship was good. It appeared things changed and you were signed off work with stress. "
Referring to the stabbing, the judge said it was fortunate that no organs were damaged.
The judge also made a restraining order banning him from going within 100 yards of the victim or contacting her, except through solicitors to arrange the sale of their home.