Five years' jail for Crediton stabbing

Assault missed major arteries

A man who stabbed a fellow farm worker in the neck in Crediton following a row over spicy food has been jailed for more than five years.

Dean Loughran, 48, attacked the victim with a kitchen knife after sparking an argument by squirting hand sanitiser into his meal.

The incident happened in the communal kitchen of a farm where both men were living and working on 18 March 2020.

The 31-year-old victim was making food to share with the defendant when they had a disagreement over Loughran’s request to add more spice. The co-worker went to his room to get an extra ingredient and returned to find Loughran squirting hand sanitiser into the meal.

An argument ensued before Loughran picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed the other man in the neck. The blade missed any major arteries or veins and the victim was treated in hospital and needed stitches.

Loughran, of no fixed abode, admitted a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was sentenced to five years and four months in prison, with a three-year extended licence, at Exeter Crown Court.

The judge told Loughran he posed a danger of serious harm to the wider public, despite seeking help for drug and alcohol dependency.

Detective Sergeant Simon Andrews, of Mid Devon CID, said: “This was a nasty incident. The fact that the victim was stabbed in the neck could potentially have had fatal consequences.

“The prison term handed to Loughran by the judge also reflects the lack of remorse shown by the defendant and the need to protect the wider community.

“This sentencing is a reflection of the serious nature of the offence and a warning to others about how seriously police and the courts take knife crime.”