'Deluded' man jailed for stabbing his friend in the back

Alex Crane was investigated by the police after reporting his van as stolen

A "deluded" man who stabbed his friend in the back after giving him a lift has been jailed for 10 years.

The knife wound inflicted by Alex Crane, in Chelmsford, went through the victim's lung, diaphragm and into his spleen in July 2023.

The victim claimed Crane had been motivated by a delusion that he was interested in his girlfriend, Essex Police said.

Crane, of Oak Lane, Billericay, was found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm by a jury in January.

The pair had been in a car which veered off the road and crashed into a ditch on 17 July, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

Witnesses then saw the victim staggering along the road and he was taken to hospital where he was given an emergency blood transfusion and surgery.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the offence took place after Crane picked his victim up in his van

Despite overcoming his injuries, the victim would have breathing problems for the rest of his life, police said.

The defendant was arrested at a caravan park at his home address on 19 July after reporting his van as stolen.

'Dangerous offender'

In a statement, the victim said: “He was supposed to be a friend and for no reason I ended up fighting for my life.”

Investigating officer Det Con Hannah Gibbs said it was an "extremely serious" assault in a rural location, leaving the victim was isolated.

“Had he not managed to get himself back onto the main road and been helped by the witnesses, the consequences could have been fatal," she said.

“The victim will be left to pick up the pieces of his life as best he can and has done so with admirable determination.

“Crane is a dangerous offender who will now spend a considerable term behind bars."

Crane would spend a further two years on licence following his release from prison, police said.