Stacey Smith: Ambulance worker who attempted to kill boss with hammer over rota issue jailed
An ambulance worker who attempted to kill her boss with a hammer and sent a text to her friend saying ‘oppsie xx!’ has been jailed.
Stacey Smith, 46, waited outside the home of her manager over a “prolonged row over work shift patterns” before launching an “unprovoked and frenzied hammer attack”. The attack took place at around 5.30am on November 11, 2023 at the home in Dukinfield, Tameside.
Smith waited outside the home, knowing that her manager would be getting ready for work before repeatedly hitting her over the head with the hammer and “screamed” threats. The victim sustained serious head injuries and a broken wrist as she attempted to protect herself.
Neighbours came to the aid of the victim and bagged the hammer which was used by Smith in the attack. Text messages sent after the attack showed that Smith had contacted a friend to say: “I’ve done it. I’ve smashed her head in. Oppsie xx!”
Smith added in the messages that she would “go on the run” to Liverpool. However, she later handed herself into Ashton Police station, where she was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The former ambulance worker was charged with attempted murder and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. She was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with a further five years on licence during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court and has also been handed a whole-life restraining order prohibiting her from contacting the victim.
Detective Constable Stephen McNee, from Tameside Criminal Investigation Department, said: “This was a particularly violent attack on the victim which left her with serious and life-changing injuries. Physically, injuries may heal but the mental trauma of the attack will stay with the victim for life. I’d like to thank her for her bravery in supporting us with our investigation.
“I’d also like to thank the local residents who came to the victim’s aid on the morning of the attack. They ensured initial first aid was given to the victim before emergency services arrived and also made sure that the hammer was covered in a plastic bag to maximise the forensic evidence we could take.
“We are pleased with today’s result, which has seen a violent woman taken off the streets, and we hope that this goes some way to helping the victim to come to terms with what has happened to her and allows her to heal.
“As a force, we are committed to locating, identifying and charging individuals who commit violent attacks such as this in Greater Manchester and we do everything in our power to investigate these incidents and bring those responsible to justice.”