A woman who worked as an ambulance driver was given a 20-year sentence with a five-year license extension after being convicted of attempting to kill her boss in a hammer attack in November 2023. Stacey Smith, 46, waited for her boss outside her house in Tameside, before the unprovoked attack. Following the attack, she texted a friend to say, “I’ve smashed her head in,” and was soon taken into police custody. Smith claimed she was provoked into attacking her boss after a confrontation over her shifts. At the time, the victim was left with significant head injuries.
According to sources, the defendant, who is from Newton Heath in Manchester, disputed with her boss about the working patterns, which culminated in the attack. In court, the victim described how she was initially shouted at and threatened by Smith before being hit repeatedly with a hammer. She attempted to defend herself, but Smith broke her wrist while continuing to aim blows at her head. Neighbors provided first aid to the victim before handing over the hammer, which they had preserved in a plastic bag.
Following the incident, authorities discovered the text messages sent by Smith to her friend, confessing to her actions and outlining plans to go on the run. Once she was taken into custody, Smith took responsibility for possessing the offensive weapon and was given strict orders preventing her from contacting the complainant. Manchester Crown Court sentenced Smith to 20 years, with an additional five-year license period due to the severity of the crime.
Detective Constable Stephen McNee determined that a dangerous and violent criminal has been removed from the streets. McNee also added that despite potential recovery from the physical injuries, the victim would suffer mental trauma for the rest of her life. The court concluded that the defendant’s actions resulted in a severe life sentence without an adequate explanation
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