Sick coward jailed after attempted murder in Widnes

While she was then lying on the floor ‘defenceless,’ Michael Moon then tried to run over her.

The victim’s arm was ‘partially amputated’ after Moon’s vicious attack.

The 39-year-old, of Rope House Walk, Cherry Sutton, Widnes, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court today, Monday, after pleading guilty to attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.

Prosecuting, Ian Harris told the court how the offences happened outside the victim’s home in Widnes on June 4 this year.

Mr Harris said there had been issues for many years between the victim and Moon over a family member.

He blamed the victim for his break-up with her daughter, who he previously assaulted on two occasions, and other family-related issues.

The court heard before the attempted murder, there had been no direct contact between the victim and Moon for around four years – besides ‘nasty’ text messages sent from him.

On the days leading up to the ‘cruel, cowardly and murderous attack’, Moon had been drinking heavily.

WhatsApp messages to his current girlfriend revealed he claimed he would ‘have to take things into his own hands’ regarding a family issue.

On the day of the attack, Moon told his girlfriend he hoped he did not see his ex ‘because he will not be in control of his future’.

Mr Harris told the court that on the day, he had consumed nearly two litres of vodka, as well as 0.6 grams of cocaine.

At around 9pm, he drove to the victim’s address in Widnes.

The vehicle he was using had telematics and tracked his speed – revealing he had been hitting speeds of 70mph on roads in the town.

When he arrived, he saw the victim walking outside her address so pulled up next to her.

But a discussion soon ‘escalated’ into a confrontation which saw Moon get out of his car and run round the back towards the 67-year-old victim.

Here, he subjected her to a sick, horrific attack which was captured on CCTV.

Mr Harris revealed how Moon stabbed the woman eight times to the head and upper body which caused her to fall to the floor.

As the victim was lay ‘defenceless’ on the floor, he stabbed her a further 14 times before being disturbed by neighbours.

But as he walked off, he threw the knife towards the victim which became embedded in her shoulder.

Moon can then be heard on CCTV telling the victim he is going to run her over.

Here, he got in his car and mounted the kerb at speed where he drove towards the victim.

“But somehow, she managed to roll out of the way,” said Mr Harris.

Throughout the ‘murderous’ attack, Moon was calling the victim horrific names while she was screaming for help.

The court was told how the knife had a blade of eight inches and was 13-inches long in total.

Moon was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court (Image: NQ)

The victim’s husband and a neighbour – who happened to be a retired paramedic with 29 years of experience – were first at the scene.

It was later heard that these actions potentially saved the victim’s life.

Mr Harris told Liverpool Crown Court that the victim was taken to Aintree Hospital. A trauma surgeon said that if she had not received emergency treatment she would have died within an hour.

At the hospital, the victim was in hyper-bulimic shock. She had a number of deep lacerations, an underlying skull fracture, suffered a ‘massive’ haemorrhage and was put in critical care, where she was then resuscitated.

Moon has a number of previous convictions – including charges for battery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

In a personal impact statement, the victim claimed the ‘deep scars’ on her face are a constant reminder of the attack.

She said she struggles to blink due to damage to her eye and has to have eye drops every two hours. She also has to use medical tape to sleep at night.

Mr Harris summarised the statement where the victim revealed she now struggles with everyday tasks due to the damage to her left arm and relies on her husband and grandson for support.

Mr Harris added that in her husband’s statement, he claimed: “I find it hard to comprehend how anyone could do what this defendant has done to a helpless 67-year-old.”

Defending, Michael Bagley said: “The most important mitigation in this case is of course the fact Mr Moon pleaded guilty

“He accepts full responsibility for what he has done and he does not try to water down his intentions.”

Mr Bagley said the defendant claimed he had a ‘complete breakdown’ and prays his victim makes a full recovery.

In a letter, Moon said: “I would like to think I’m a good person deep down and mean well.”

Concluding, judge Neil Flewitt said that Moon blames the victim for the breakdown of his relationship and loss of contact with a family member.

But he said: “The responsibility for that state of affairs lies with you, and you only.”

Referring to the incident, judge Flewitt added: “When you arrived you saw the victim walking towards her address.

“You pulled up alongside her which quickly escalated into confrontation. You lost control and exploded. The reason was because the victim was telling you a number of home truths.

“You have accepted that when you attacked her, you intended to kill her

“You took hold of the knife, got out of your car and attacked her eight times to the head and upper body, causing her to fall to the ground.

“While she was lying there defenceless, you continued to stab her. It is estimated you continued to stab her 14 times before neighbours came out.

“You the threw the knife which became embedded in her shoulder.”

Judge Flewitt described the incident as ‘horrific’ and ‘traumatic’.

Moon was handed a 22-year prison sentence and will serve an extended licence period of four years.

He was also handed an indefinite restraining order against the victim.

Detective Inspector Hannah Friend of the Major Investigation Team, who led the investigation, added: “Today our thoughts are with Carmel and her family who have shown incredible courage and tenacity since the attack, and I thank them for their support. 
“Carmel’s remarkable resilience stands in sharp contrast to the actions of the coward who attacked her and who is now serving a lengthy prison sentence. 
“This incident was one of the most violent and harrowing attacks my colleagues and I have seen in our careers. All those involved in the incident and subsequent investigation have been truly shocked by the callous and brutal nature of the assault. 
“Had it not been for the outstanding bravery of Carmel’s neighbours in providing critical lifesaving first-aid I fear that the outcome for Carmel would have been very different.
“The actions and professionalism of the initial response officers, paramedics, and our NHS colleagues in contributing to the victim’s incredible recovery have meant that she has been able to return to her family as a much-loved wife, mother, and grandmother. 
“Finally, I would like to thank the officers and staff from teams across Cheshire Police who worked so diligently throughout this investigation, supported by the CPS, to ensure that the offender was successfully brought to justice.”