Widnes man killed love rival over takeaway meal

Stephen Cotterill was still living with his estranged wife at the time of the assault

A man smashed his estranged wife's lover over the head with a wheel brace when he caught them eating a Chinese takeaway together, a court was told.

Stephen Cotterill came home early on 13 March to find Matthew Charnock eating with his wife at the home in Widnes they still shared, police said.

He attacked Mr Charnock as he tried to run away. He died three days later.

At Liverpool Crown Court, the 39-year-old, convicted of manslaughter at an earlier hearing, was given seven years.

Cheshire Police said Mr Charnock was hit on the head and the arm as he tried to flee on a path at the side of the house in Brinton Close, Widnes.

Mr Charnock was taken to hospital but later discharged. Police said his conidition deteriorated in the following days and he "sadly passed away in the early hours of 16 March".

Det Insp Simon Blackwell, of Cheshire Police, said: "Matthew thought he was okay after being assaulted and he did receive initial medical treatment.

"Sadly, the blow he suffered to his head was much more serious than anticipated."

Cotterill handed himself into police shortly before Mr Charnock's death.

He had denied manslaughter but was convicted at Chester Crown Court on 3 October.

Sentencing him, Judge Alan Conrad said Cotterill made the blows in anger and had taken away "a life of promise".