A man and a woman from Plymouth have been handed significant prison sentences for a horrifying and premeditated attack where a victim was lured from his home, beaten with a machete and metal bar, and stabbed eight times.
A Calculated and Vicious Assault
Tommy McTighe, 34, and Gemma Vanstone, 35, both from Plymouth, Devon, orchestrated a plan to attack their victim in March last year. They deliberately enticed the man out of his residence before launching a brutal assault.
The court heard how the victim was subjected to a savage beating with a foot-long machete and a metal bar. He was stabbed eight times during the onslaught before he managed to stagger away from his attackers, leaving him lying in a pool of his own blood.
The Chilling Taunt and Rescue
In a shocking display of callousness, McTighe and Vanstone were seen driving past the scene of their crime in a Mercedes. An occupant of the vehicle was heard shouting, ‘Is he dead yet?’ towards the severely injured victim.
The man's life was likely saved by a passing taxi driver who spotted him lying in his blood and immediately contacted the emergency services.
Court Convictions and Final Sentencing
Following a trial in September, both defendants were convicted of Section 18 GBH wounding with intent. They had denied the offence. McTighe was also convicted of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, having pleaded not guilty, but he admitted possession of crack cocaine.
The case reached its conclusion at Plymouth Crown Court on November 21, where the judge delivered the sentences. Tommy McTighe was jailed for nine years, while Gemma Vanstone received a five-and-a-half-year prison term.
