Manchester Thug Receives Extended Sentence for Vicious Axe Assault
Colan Entwistle, a 38-year-old man from Middleton in Greater Manchester, has been handed an extended prison sentence for a brutal axe attack on his girlfriend's former partner. The violent incident, driven by jealousy, left the victim with a collapsed lung and fearing for his life.
A Calculated and Vicious Attack
The court heard that Entwistle waited outside his then-partner's home in Langley, Middleton, armed with an axe. When Daniel Kineton, the ex-boyfriend, left the property, Entwistle confronted him. As Mr Kineton attempted to escape by climbing over a fence, Entwistle raised the axe above his head and struck him in the back.
Judge Jenny Lester-Ashworth emphasized the severity of the attack, stating, "He could have killed him, that was the risk when he raised that axe above his head." The victim suffered a collapsed lung and spent five days in hospital recovering from his injuries.
Background to the Violent Confrontation
Prosecutor David Toal outlined the events leading up to the attack. Mr Kineton, then 30, had previously been in a relationship with Michaela Edhouse, which ended in November 2024. Ms Edhouse then began a new relationship with Entwistle.
On the afternoon of April 2 last year, Mr Kineton was in a garden with friends when Ms Edhouse and her mother walked past. They engaged in friendly conversation, and she later invited him into her home for a drink, where they agreed to remain civil with each other.
Jealousy Fuels Threatening Messages
As Mr Kineton remained at the property, Ms Edhouse began receiving abusive and threatening messages from Entwistle, who had discovered they were together. Entwistle called her at approximately 9.35pm, demanding to know her whereabouts. When she revealed she was with Mr Kineton, he responded with a torrent of insults and threats.
Entwistle continued to send threatening messages, vowing to "inflict violence" on Mr Kineton. Ms Edhouse replied that Mr Kineton was "ready for a fight." Around midnight, Mr Kineton decided to leave, only to be met by Entwistle outside, who declared, "I've got an axe."
Victim's Harrowing Account
Mr Kineton described the moment he was struck, saying he "thought he was going to die." He recalled a sensation of "part of me had split open," with blood gushing from his body. Despite his injuries, he managed to make his way to his mother's nearby house, where emergency services were called.
In a statement summarized by Mr Toal, the victim expressed, "He says the assault left him fearing for his life, and he genuinely thought he was going to die." Ms Edhouse promptly identified Entwistle as the attacker.
Arrest and Attempts to Interfere with Investigation
Entwistle was arrested approximately 24 hours after the attack at a friend's home in Oldham and remanded in custody at HMP Forest Bank. While in jail, he contacted Ms Edhouse, sending her four letters. Ms Edhouse noted that in these letters, Entwistle acted "like nothing has happened" and seemed to believe they were still in a relationship.
It became apparent that Entwistle was aware of witness statements in his case and believed only Ms Edhouse's statement implicated him. He suggested she could withdraw her statement, claiming she had been drunk at the time. He also called her phone around five times. Unbeknownst to him, Mr Kineton had also provided a statement, though it had not been uploaded to the digital case system.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Entwistle pleaded guilty to committing grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing an offensive weapon. With 25 previous offences on his record, Judge Lester-Ashworth deemed him a "dangerous" offender and imposed an extended prison sentence.
He must serve two-thirds of an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence before being considered for release by the Parole Board. Additionally, he received an extra four years on licence.
Police Response and Investigation
Detective Constable Russ Clarke of Rochdale CID, who led the investigation, commented, "This was a calculated and vicious attack that could have easily resulted in a fatality. The level of planning, the nature of the threats, and the choice of weapon all point to a clear intent to cause serious harm."
He added, "Thanks to the bravery of the victim and the swift response of emergency services, the victim survived and Entwistle was quickly apprehended. The victim continues to come to terms with what happened that night and recover both physically and psychologically. Entwistle displayed a complete disregard for human life, fuelled by alcohol and jealousy."
DC Clarke further noted, "It became clear during the investigation that Entwistle believed he could evade justice for his actions and sought to utilise others to interfere with the investigation. It was only when faced with compelling evidence that he accepted his guilt."
